Robb

Weeks have passed since Fathers execution and I've been named King in the North.

I might be one of the few men in the Seven Kingdoms that never dreamed of being king. I never wanted it. I wear no crown and have no gold, want no glory.

All I have is the loyalty of the men following me and the duty to execute justice. The duty to avenge my father, bring my sisters home.

To free her.

Mother and I sit together in silence one evening. So many long and lonely nights spent in camps. 

My voice is thick as I ask "Have you heard anything from the capital, of my sisters or Cassana?"

"Only that they meant to take her head and somehow it was Ned who lost his," she mutters spitefully.

"It was not her fault-"

"I know," she sighs in defeat. We both heard the reports. That Cassana tried to take the blame, begged him not to take her place. While my mother has her doubts I believe the stories I've heard. Cassana is many things, but she is a fighter.

And she lost.

Mother does not blame Cassana, not for this at least, but I understand it's hard not to when she is breathing and Father is not. "I know. They say the only reason they didn't take her's was because the crowd would have rioted."

She is their princess, she is loved by the realm. It's no surprise to me that the mob would have rioted if they took her head. From what we've heard they rioted regardless.

"Then where is she now?" I ask just wanting answers. I can't count the number of sleepless nights I've laid awake wondering where she is. If she's still in a dark cell, all alone, slowly wasting away. Wondering if my sisters share her fate.

"I don't know for certain, likely in the black cells," she answers. "She has not been seen since the riot. While Joffrey and the others escaped to the keep- they say she disappeared amongst the mob."

"What are you saying?" I ask and she can't look me in the eye.

"There are rumours..." she hesitates.

"Mother," I say so tensely that she flinches. "What rumours?"

And so she tells me. "Rumours that she may be dead. Killed in the riot."

I swallow hard, facing the truth. I should not be grieving for her, she was never my wife. She belonged to Jon more than she ever belonged to me. It's him who should be mourning and yet he's at the wall, so far removed from all of this.

While I'm trying to figure out how to keep her alive, despite it all.

If she is still alive.

"If she was dead Joffrey would be broadcasting it across the realm. We would know," I tell myself. "She's alive, I know it."

She looks at me, meekly. "Please Robb, don't consider marrying her. She'll break your heart."

"She already has," I say and look away. "This is what's best for us. Renly has declared himself king, we need an alliance with the Stormlands."

"And what of Walder Frey?"

"What is the Twins next to the entirety of the Stormlands?" I ask her. "She will not be queen, not after this, not with both her uncles claiming the throne. But if I know anything about her, it's that she will not let Joffrey stay on that throne."

~

Jon

I look south from the wall, towards Winterfell where I road until my brothers pulled me back.

Father is dead. Robb marches south with an army. And Cassana - Cassana is a prisoner.

And here I am. And there is nothing I can do to save any of them. I can't even take up a sword to fight for them.

Her father is dead, her mother her enemy, Robb may be the last chance she has. I just hope he has it in him to fight for her as well as our sisters. I hope that he can forgive her, even if it's me he resents. He's always been the better man, and now he's all that stands between the Lannisters and the North. 

I wish I could say I was surprised when I heard what she'd done, yet I always knew she had rebellion in her blood. 

I just never imagined it would end like this.

I loved her, I still love her, but it was always Robb she should have loved. Not me.

Even if I wrote to her now it would never reach her. She is being held in the black cells in the Red Keep from what the rumours say, as good as dead.

Even now, I want to leave the black, I wouldn't care if they called me a deserter, I should be with her and Robb.

But in the end, there is nothing I could ever do to change their fates.

~

Cassana

I find myself wondering if I'm truly dead. My body has all but wasted away, what is left of me?

I no longer feel like a woman. Cassana Baratheon is a distant memory to me now. She died that day.

Only the storm remains, however now it is little more than pattering rain. Light appears and I'm too numb to even move. A metal flask is thrown at my feet.

"Drink. The king wants you alive."

This is not life.

I do not move and he pulls a dagger out of his boot and holds it to my throat. The blade is so cold but the most welcoming thing I've ever felt "Drink or I'll fuckin make ya swallow something else."

I look into his dead eyes, the chains on my wrists rattle as I move to grab the flask. He watches as the liquid touches my tongue and pervertedly adjusts his trousers. I look to his waist to see a sword and a bundle of keys.

"You want it?" he asks licking his dry lips "I'll fuck you better than the stark boy ever did."

Stark boy? Then I remember. Jon. Even he is little more than a memory.

And Robb... oh Robb.

Oh how it all went so wrong.

Now I truly have nothing left to lose.

I look up at the man and lure him closer "That's a good little-"

He falls as I strike him hard across the temple with the metal flask and the moment he hits the ground I wrap my chains around his throat strangling him. He thrashes and I realise I'm not strong enough to hold him so I reach for his sword, dragging it upwards across his throat, just deep enough blood warms my hand and he stops fighting. 

I fall forward onto the ground, my body hitting the cold stone and my skin is warmed by the growing puddle of blood. In the darkness I fumble around until I find the bundle of keys. Key after key I try until finally the shackles that bind my wrists fall and I am free.

They think they can lock me down here and keep my silent? I will make them hear me. They will hear me roar.

Sipping from the flask of water I can finally breathe again. Finally feel. My arms can barely lift the sword so instead I continue to fumble and find a dagger amongst the blood.

Bracing myself against the wall I stand and unlock my cell, in the dim light from the torch on the wall I see a Gold Cloak with his back to me. Carefully I approach and he's oblivious until he feels the blade at his throat but by then it's already too late. He falls to the ground and I finally know what my father spoke of. The Baratheon bloodlust.

The Goldcloaks betrayed me. Betrayal after betrayal. I'm tired. I'm so tired. My body doesn't feel alive anymore, all that is left is the storm and now- now it's brewing again. One final front before it fades away.

"Oh gods," a voice gasps and I turn to see a guard looking at me, I've never seen so much fear in someone's eyes before. It's as if he's seen a ghost.

"Help me," I croak and he cautiously steps forward but he doesn't see the dagger hidden behind my torn skirts. He reaches out to touch me as if to make sure I'm real and I bury the dagger into his throat and watch the life disappear from his eyes.

Do my eyes look the same as his?

"Put the dagger down!" A voice orders and I release my grip on it, the guard falls to the ground with the blade still in his throat. I turn to see a dozen guards with drawn swords. "Gods she's gone mad."

"No," I say, my voice little more than a broken whisper "Not mad."

And so I remove the torch from the wall and hold it in my hands. They look at me fearfully, uncertain of how I shall use it.

Darkness. They shall know darkness. And so I extinguish it. Leaving us all in pure darkness at my mercy.


~

Robb

It is time to make our demands.

"You're Ser Alton Lannister?" I ask noticing he doesn't look like the typical Lannister but then again they only risked sending an unimportant cousin.

"I am, Your Grace," he answers. It's still so strange being called it, I don't think I'll ever grow used to it.

"I offer your cousins peace if they meet my terms," I vow already knowing they won't agree, but the longer we have Jaime the more desperate they will grow. "First, your family must release my sisters. Second, my father's bones must be returned to us so he may rest beside his brother and sister in the crypts beneath Winterfell. And the remains of all those who died in his service must also be returned. Their families can honour them with proper funerals."

"An honorable request, Your Grace," he says but I'm not finished.

"Third, Joffrey and the Queen Regent must renounce all claim to dominion of the North. From this time until the end of time, we are a free and independent kingdom."

His eyes widen, the last time a kingdom tried to claim independence was the Greyjoy rebellion.

"The King in the North," my men praise, however they may not be as encouraging of my fourth.

"Neither Joffrey nor any of his men shall set foot in our lands again. If he disregards this command, he shall suffer the same fate as my father, only I don't need a servant to do my beheading for me."

"These are- Your Grace," he stammers "These are..."

"I'm not finished," I say and they all exchange confused looks. "Finally, I demand that the Princess Cassana Baratheon whom I'm betrothed to be released from custody and be given to me to wed, as her father the late King Robert had sworn to my father. The Houses Stark and Baratheon will be joined upon making peace."

A panicked look fills his eyes as my mother's head whips towards me "I- I will pass that request on."

"I've heard rumours that she is dead," I say trying to keep my voice from wavering. "Are these rumours true?"

"No, your Grace," he quickly answers. "As far as I know she is still being kept in the Black Cells for starting the riot that nearly took King Joffrey's life, as well as numerous other treasons."

The fear in his eyes doesn't bring me any peace of mind.

"And is she well?" I ask, testing him while my bannermen still exchange questioning looks. "I've heard of my sisters but nothing of the woman I'm engaged to."

"She-" he begins then he anxiously clears his throat. "If I may be honest Your Grace they say she has lost her wits entirely, that- that she is mad. The night before I left the capital she had attempted to escape and murdered several guards. I believe she is being kept under higher guard now."

She's still in the black cells. After all this time. Months. If she committed murder then I can't imagine how desperate she is, but then again we both have blood on our hands now.

"They do say people go mad in those cells Robb," my mother warns despite my bannermen looking uncomfortable with this whole demand. "She's been in there for months."

"She has been imprisoned for months, it is desperation not madness," I say firmly. "Cassana and my sisters are not to be harmed under any circumstances and if you are lying, if Cassana is already dead or is killed then there will be no peace."

"Robb!" Mother scolds. "If she is as good as dead then-"

I silence her as I stand "Those are my terms. If the Queen Regent and her son meet them, I'll give them peace. If not, I will litter the south with Lannister dead."

"King Joffrey is a Baratheon, Your Grace."

"Oh, is he?" Word of Joffreys parentage has spread far thanks to Cassana, it is only a matter of time before it becomes fact. "You'll ride at daybreak, Ser Alton. That will be all for tonight."

Everyone dismisses themselves except for Theon and my mother.

I prepare myself for her anger.

"Robb. You will not marry that girl."

"I'd rather her then a Frey," I say and she scoffs.

"Stop pretending this is political, you still love her even when she has laid with your brother."

"You were betrothed to my uncle Brandon before my father," I remind her and her mouth snaps shut. "And we do not know if she laid with him." Even if my gut tells me otherwise. "We are not the children we used to be. We are at war and she wants Joffrey dead more than any other. I may not trust her heart, but I trust her will. The things I judged her for are now what we need, we need someone who understands Kings Landing, her knows the Lannisters. We may be winning on the battlefield but we need someone with her expertise. And who better than a Lannister?"

~

Cassana

Eventually light returns and for just a moment I wonder if I've ascended to the heavens, if the mother has saved me, but it is a mortal voice that speaks.

"The hand of the king has ordered your release."

Perhaps I truly have gone mad.

I wake to the screams of a woman. Familiar hands grasp my face and my weary eyes open to a red haired girl who I vaguely remember.

"Your alive," she gasps. "Oh thank the gods."

I'm dragged towards the light until I'm placed upon clouds and a wet rag touches my face "Cassana- Cassana can you hear me?"

My skeletal hand raises and I've never seen so much blood upon it.

Death is coming for me.

When I next wake I hear another vaguely familiar voice "She is severely malnourished. It seems the guards didn't attend to her after she attempted to escape. She was likely days from death, starvation and thirst are truly the worst ways to go with the toll it takes on the body. However it is her mind I fear for, that often goes long before the body does."

"Can the Queen see her?"

"I'm afraid not, the King has forbidden the Queen visiting but the Hand will visit soon. You are the only person permitted to be in her service."

"Thank you Maester Pycelle."

Darkness again falls and I find myself looking at the moon. A comb strokes through my wet hair.

"Can you hear me?"

I nod weakly and watch her reflection in the window as she speaks to me "You are very ill but you are safe. Your body will recover but I am worried about your mind. Can you speak?"

Bree, I slowly realise. It is Bree who speaks to me. My lips quiver as I try to make out a word but I cannot.

"It has been months now since the day on the scaffold, Sansa is alive and well, and Robb-."

"Robb," I gasp out and quake "Is he-"

"He is alive and well. He is liberating the Riverlands from the Lannisters. They call him the Young Wolf now, he is almost legendary but you wouldn't know- of course you wouldn't. He won a great battle and captured your uncle."

Tears of pride come to my eyes. Oh Robb.

"Tyrion?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"No, Tyrion is here in the capital. He is the one who ordered that you be freed."

Tyrion. My uncle. The uncle I've always loved the most, who has always loved me the most

"Where- where is he?"

"Finding out who is responsible for letting you waste away and scolding your brother," she tells me as she continues combing through my hair, when did it grow this long? "He came by earlier but you were asleep. Maester Pycelle gave you same medicine to help you, to put you to sleep so your body can heal itself. Essence of Nightshade, just two drops is all it took. You were injured in the riot however we suspect it was the Gold Cloaks who beat you, not the common folk, but Joffrey had it far worse."

"Joffrey," I whisper feeling my mind finally grasp a thought. "The riot."

The memories finally come back to me. Knuckles striking me bloody until I was on the ground, then kicking me until I coughed blood and could not breathe. It did not stop until it went dark.

"Joffrey barely escaped alive," she tells me. "Robb is still marching south, he will take his head."

"Ned," I sob as I finally awaken, gasping and clutching at my chest "Ned."

She pulls me into her arms so my head rests on her chest. "Cassana, it's alright. He did not suffer."

Cassana. I am Cassana Baratheon. "Cassana speak to me."

"He's dead, they're all dead," I ramble, Ned, my father. Dead.

"Will you fight?" she asks, clasping my hands in hers. "I need Cassana back, the realm needs you. They need their queen, I need my queen. Robb needs you. The North needs you. Come back to me and fight, fight for your throne. The North will not survive Joffreys reign."

The girl Robb knew in Winterfell died that day and was reborn in the riot. I am no longer the Princess Cassana, beloved daughter of the king and the graceful little doe who was betrothed to the Stark boy.

I am Cassana Baratheon, Rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Yet queen of nothing. A broken woman with nothing but a claim and a fractured family of traitors. I am nothing. My claim means nothing, it means as much as Daenerys Targaryens. And I feel a strange kinship with my exiled cousin across the narrow sea and wonder if I sailed if I could find her and escape these kingdoms. Two exiled princesses, queens of nothing.

~

When morning comes I bathe, washing every last bit of blood off of myself.

Washing away the fear, the pain.

If I am to survive I cannot have fear, I know what is coming for me. Fear will not prevent it, instead I must survive it.

Bree pulls a yellow dress out of my wardrobe, one with very specific memories attached to it.

"Something black," I say stiffly. "You heard Littlefinger, it hides blood better and I have plenty of it on my hands now."

She looks unnerved. "You will not have to spill anymore blood, you are safe now."

"You don't believe that," I reply having given the matter much thought. "We must escape this city, whether it be to the Stormlands or across the narrow sea."

"Cassana," she says gently. "You do not have to pretend to be alright after what you have endured. You do not have to plot anymore, let someone take care of you."

I sit at my vanity and look at my pale and deathly reflection

"A crown braid, leave the back loose as I usually have it," I instruct. "I do not intend on losing my head today."

She looks at me proudly, but warily. "Never forget how strong you are Cassana. Men will spend mere weeks there and break, yet here you are after months down there."

"I did break," I say, looking at myself in the mirror. I truly do look like death, my face pale and hollow. My eyes so drained. No wonder the guards looked so terrified. "But I cannot stay broken."

"In the North they say that your father was a great warrior in his time during the rebellion. You may not be able to wield a sword in your state, but you have a warriors heart."

I turn to look her in the eye, my friend who has been with me since I left Winterfell, who is with me now. My friend who I care for. "No one has ever had as much faith in me as you have."

"My faith is well placed," she assures me and there is no doubt in her eyes. "I've known you for quite some time now. I met you when you left Winterfell, and I know you now. You have overcome everything that has been thrown at you and I know that if you can overcome those cells there is no stopping you. You will win this game Cassana and you shall be queen."

The thought is laughable now. "I will never be queen of anything. All I can do now is try to deliver justice.

The sounds of the bolts on the outside of my door being unlocked has me jumping to my feet and grabbing something sharp until I fall to my knees once I see who enters.

"My beloved niece."

Tears blur my vision as I laugh, whether it be from joy or grief I do not know "Tyrion."

I embrace him, perhaps the last family who may be loyal to me. Tears wet my cheeks as he holds me.

"Cassana."

He pulls away and goes pale as he inspects my hollow face. "You poor child."

But that is the last thing on my mind. There are so many questions I've wanted to ask him for so long.

"All along," I whisper. "You knew. You told me to know my claim, I thought nothing of it, until-"

"You learned the truth," he finishes sadly. "I'm so sorry to hear of both your father and Ned Stark."

It's so strange. In all of this I've hardly had time to mourn my father, I doubt he was even given a funeral.

But then again why would the murderer arrange a funeral for her victim.

"My mother had him killed," I tell Tyrion numbly and his mouth falls open.

"Cassana, I know you don't like your mother very much right now but Robert died from-"

"A boar," I answer. "He missed his thrust. However he wouldn't have missed his thrust if my mother didn't have Lancel drug his wine. She knew Ned would have told him the truth, so she had him killed. Don't try to tell me I've gone mad, I imprisoned Lancel and interrogated him the day it happened, he confessed."

That was certainly the last thing he expected to hear.

"So that explains why you were angry enough to expose the truth," he sighs. "I can't blame you."

It feels like yesterday but I know it's been months since Fathers death as well as Ned's.

"You got me out," I breathe, still struggling to believe this is real. "After everything I did. Trying to seize the throne, exposing the truth to the city then starting a riot that nearly killed Joffrey if I've heard correctly."

"Consider it a late name day gift." He must see the confused look on my face and elaborates. "Your seventeenth nameday passed several weeks ago."

Gods, I know Bree said I was down there for months but even so I still can't wrap my head around in.

"Tyrion, how long has it been since my fathers death?" I dare to ask.

"About four months," he answers. "You and Ned were imprisoned for two months before he lost his head and well, it's been another two. But can speak of all of that later."

Bree helps me to my feet and holds my arm as Tyrion guides us to the table. "Bree, you've been loyal to my niece. The friend she needs."

"She's my queen," Bree says despite knowing those words are treason. Tyrion just gives us a pained smile.

"That she is. Can you bring us some food, lots of it. She needs it."

She nods and leaves, leaving just Tyrion and I alone.

"How are you feeling?" he asks me gently. "Four months down there is not kind to a person."

"I haven't felt hunger in so long," I tell him in full honestly. "After a while it just disappears. But thirst-"

I find myself pouring myself a glass of water just thinking about it, my frail arm shakes as I hold the jug up for Tyrion. "The months I was down there I was lucky to have drunk one of these. Most of that was in the first two. After the riot they only gave me just enough to survive. Then after I killed a guard who would have raped me and the others, they left me for dead."

He is visibly disturbed, and remorseful. "I wish I had come sooner."

"You didn't intend to be kidnapped," I dismiss. "But I do wish you were here. Gods I wished you were there."

He reaches over to squeeze my hand before clearing his throat. "Now Cassana, I must know. How is your mind?"

"I thought I was dead," I whisper. "I truly thought I was dead. It- I can hardly remember it. Before my mind went all I wished was that I lost my head that day. Perhaps I still do."

"Do not say that," he scolds. "You are alive and you will stay alive."

"Joffrey swore to me that I'd meet my end at the edge of a blade," I tell him knowing the danger I am in. "I need to leave this city, gods perhaps even the Seven Kingdoms."

"Cassana," he says carefully. "There is something you should know."

"Gods who else is dead?"

"No one," he says. "But Robb Stark has issued his demands in exchange for peace. Being the release of his sisters and the North's independence."

"Independence?" I ask and realise how deeply this has struck the North. "Gods, this is the largest rebellion since my fathers."

"Robb is King in the North," he tells me and my lips part, I knew he was leading an army but not this, of if I did I cannot remember.

"I wish I'd known he had it in him," I lament. "He was always a good man, but I was the one who was blind."

He treads carefully "The last of Robb's demands was your release."

I look at him in confusion. "My release, why would he care after all that's happened."

"Because, despite everything, he still wants you for a wife." My heart stops completely. "That was his final demand, for Joffrey to fulfill the engagement between you." I'm shaking as tears wet my cheeks. "Cassie-"

I'm gasping for air, tears in my throat. "He's too good, he's too good to me."

"Cassie, you may yet be queen of something."

I shake my head. "I don't care, I just want to live." I'm crying, sobbing. After all this, Robb still cares for me, enough to save my head. "Oh Robb."

He reaches out and squeezes my hand tight. "Joffrey will not give you or Sansa to Robb."

"What about Arya?" I ask, remembering seeing her at the statue of Baelor. "Did she make it back to Robb?"

He swallows. "No one has heard anything of her since her fathers arrest."

I close my eyes and ask "Then what will come of Sansa and I?"

He sighs heavily and takes a long drink "Sansa is still engaged to Joffrey, he is mistreating her in front of the court, word will no doubt reach Robb. As for you, Exile was the first option but you would have needed a warden. First we thought of sending you to Stannis but well, he's claiming he's the rightful heir and has named himself king."

I can't say I'm surprised but my blood begins to boil as I ask "Renly?"

He hesitates "He has also named himself king."

I laugh, finding myself unsurprised. "The fucking coward betrayed me and left me to die and now he calls himself king!"

That bastard. I loved him, I trusted him.

"I'm afraid so," he says meekly having rarely seen my temper and I realise how unhinged those cells have left me.

Then a feeling I've rarely felt consumes me. The thirst for revenge. Against Joffrey, Renly, Littlefinger, the Gold Cloaks, my mother. All of them.

"Get me out of here," I say thickly. "Get me out of this castle and to Robb. He looks at me silently and I scream between gritted teeth "Say something!" Then my voice breaks "Please."

"We are at war with Robb," he says as if I hadn't noticed. "Tywin sent my cousin Alton to speak with him. Robb still has Jaime as his prisoner and I doubt this will end until Robb put's both his and Joffrey's heads on spikes."

"There will not be peace until my brothers head is on a spike," I declare. "If I have to put it there myself I will."

His eyes widen and he swallows hard "You aren't the girl I knew a year ago."

"No," I say feeling the coldness in my heart. "I'm not. My mother decided to ruin any prospect at marriage I had,  before I could, by pushing Bran, she denied me my birthright, murdered my father, and stood by as my brother tried to have me beheaded after Renly and Margaery, who I was fucking, abandoned me in the night. I felt the blade at my neck, the only reason it didn't strike was because the mob would have turned on him. So he took Ned's head while I begged for mercy, begged for Ned to save himself and have me killed instead. Then Joffrey threw me in the Black Cells to rot. Look at me and tell me Tyrion, did you expect me to be the same girl you knew?"

"No," he answers quietly. "Of course not, I'm sorry."

He squeezes my hand with tears in his eyes. "I am so sorry I was not here, and I am so relieved you are alive. You fought to survive and here you are. I swear I will do everything I can to send you to Robb."

What frightens me most is the prospect of seeing Robb. That he will not recognise me. That he will be looking into the eyes of a stranger. Perhaps that would be for the best after all I've done.

There is one question still on my tongue "Why did Joffrey agree to let me out?"

"There were rumours you were dead," he hesitantly tells me. "There was risk of another riot."

"Get me out of here," I say, knowing I can no longer fight from within these walls. "Tell them you are exiling me to Casterly Rock with Tywin, or even Uncle Kevan, as my warden and I will find a way to escape."

His eyes narrow but I can see the intrigue in them, the allure of a plot "How would you escape?"

"Give me a weapon and we'll find out," I say, the rational mind struggling against the chaos in my soul "I am weak but I can still kill. I am my mothers daughter after all, have the most drunken guards you can find escort me and supply them with spiked wine. Once they are asleep I will cut their throats and ride North."

He actually looks to take the idea seriously "There is a risk of running into my fathers army."

"I'll figure it out," I insist and look to the sword resting on my chest which must have been retrieved from the chaos. "I am strong enough to ride. Tomorrow at dawn send me on my way before Joffrey can arrange my death. No one will suspect you were involved, those deaths will be blamed on me alone."

He takes a long look at me "Are you even strong enough to hold a sword?"

"No but I am," Bree says and Tyrion and I jump having not heard her enter. "My Lord send me with her. I will make sure she gets to the North."

"It will be dangerous," I warn her. "I don't want anyone else to die because of me."

"I will make sure you get to the North," she repeats firmly. "Do not ask me to leave your side."

It's then I realise how terrified I am of losing her. Of someone else I love dying to protect me.

"Alright," Tyrion agrees "You will likely have to testify to Joffrey that you agree to this exile."

"Whatever it takes," I decide "Just get us out of this city."

~

And so that evening I am taken into the throne room before the court. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne and I know now is not the time to take risks.

Mother stands beside him pale from horror as she lays eyes on me, vaguely I remember Pycelle telling Bree she wasn't allowed to see me.

She had no idea how I'd wasted away in those cells.

"Kneel," Joffrey orders and I do so with my head held high. "Our uncle has informed me you wish to be exiled to Casterly Rock."

"Yes," I answer keeping my voice emotionless.

"She will be safe under the watchful eye of your grandfather," Mother coaxes.

"I do not care if she is safe," he snaps. "She must be punished."

"And she has been," Tyrion scolds. "Look at your sister. Only days ago she was on deaths door."

He does look pleased as he examines me but still cautious "What if she tries to escape?"

She is far too weak to do any such thing," Tyrion dismisses and Joffrey seems satisfied.

"Do you swear to be obedient, to never speak against me ever again."

This past year I have allowed my emotions to rule me. However I was still raised in this keep, I know how to lie.

"I swear it."
"Very well, she may leave for Casterly Rock come dawn," he says however his voice is still threatening. "But I swear, if you betray me again you shall lose your head. You will return to the capital once we have Robb Starks head and I will take you onto the walls to make you look at it."

My eyes immediately flick to Sansa who keeps her eyes on the ground and in horror I realise what he's done to her. What he forced her to see.

"And you will join her," Joffrey says to her. "You will both see this young wolfs defeat."

"Yes my King," she responds quietly and as much as I want to beg Joffrey to allow her to come with me I know that he would only become suspicious, even he is not fool enough to agree to it.

While I cannot speak someone else can.

I look to Tyrion and he steps forward. "She is to be your wife, you should treat her as such."

"I'll treat her how I like!" Joffrey stands and I am still as he approaches me and whispers in my ear. "Remember my promise to you. Once Robb Stark loses his head yours will be on a spike beside his."

I look my brother in the eye "We'll see."
Although his eyes turn cold with a cruel anger he returns to his throne. However it will not be his for long, it never truly will be his. He may sit on it and my uncles may call themselves kings but I know that I am the true queen.

I look up to the small council. While Varys looks apologetic my eyes burn into Littlefingers. I have not forgotten the blade he held to Ned's throat, his time will come. Then I dare to look to my mother, watching me in silent horror. I can see the conflict in her eyes, it's tearing her apart.

"Take her to her chamber and make sure she is guarded," Joffrey orders "She leaves at dawn."

And I will be free.

~

Tyrion stays with me through the evening as I try to keep myself together.

"Tell me a story," I ask him. "Surely you must have some after your northern adventures."

"Well the wall was interesting indeed. Poor Jon Snow had a rude awakening."

I smile to myself a little. Jon.

"And is he alright?"

"I had to get him out of trouble a few times, he has a quick temper but as he becomes a man I'm sure it will sort itself out. He still thinks as highly of you as ever, said you were the only person who told him the truth about that place, that he should have listened. But he was settling in."

"Aye, he has a quick temper, but I cannot blame him," I smile to myself sadly. "I wonder if I'll ever see him again."

"Do you still love him?" Tyrion asks me and I hardly remember the girl that loved him.

"I did, but I left that love in the North, at Winterfell," I answer, almost bittersweetly. "He and I managed to see eye to eye more than Robb and I ever could, but it is now I realise that the love that seems easier is not always right. I should have stayed true to my betrothal, regardless of my ambition and plots. Now Robb wants me as a wife, whether it is just to spite Joffrey or to protect me, I don't know. But I should be grateful to him, even if I may never deserve his forgiveness."

He doesn't much comment on that, but rather says "I like Jon Snow, he's my favourite of the Stark brothers that's for sure, no offence."

"Jon is a good man, being raised as a bastard set him aside from Robb in many ways. He's got grit to him. As does Robb now so he's proven," I say quietly. "Oh the mistakes I have made."

"You only see them as mistakes now your coup has failed," he says and I look away knowing it's true. "But believe there are many, and I mean many, who see you as the true queen. Renly and Stannis are merely placeholders, soon your men will flock to you."

"Tyrion," I say, wishing I could believe it. "I wish to write a will, to name my heir in the event I do not survive this war. I want it to be publicly known."

He nods and finds paper and a quill for me. My hand stills as I dip the quill into the ink, knowing if I cannot bring war, another princess may with a Dothraki hoard at her back, especially since the rumours of her brothers demise.

He is silent as I write.

I, Princess Cassana Baratheon of Storms End, and Rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, remove Renly and Stannis Baratheon from the line of royal succession for their treasons and denounce the claims of Joffrey, and Tommen Baratheon on the condition of bastardry, being the children of Cersei and Jaime Lannister. I hereby leave Tyrion Lannister as my hand and regent to oversee the rightful heir being placed on the throne upon my demise. This heir being Daenerys Targaryen, the last surviving child of Aemon Targaryen who was unlawfully exiled by my father King Robert, and request that our new queen may respect the North's independance from the throne.

I sign my signature and Tyrion gapes at the will when I slide it to him and shakes his head "Cassana-"

"Get Varys to ensure a copy of this reaches Daenerys."

"You do not even know the girl."

"No, I do not. But yet I feel as if I understand her more than any other."

He does not question that but asks me "Is your anger that true that you would end the Baratheon dynasty by removing your uncles from the succession."

"Yes," I answer, knowing the blood our dynasty rests on. "I will be doing this one thing right after all the suffering I have caused."

~

Robb

With Cassana imprisoned I cannot ally myself with her but there is someone else I can ally myself with. 

She always said her and Renly were close and now he is calling himself king. She always preferred him to Stannis, she told me Renly was always the opposite of him and I've heard enough of Stannis to know where I need to put my allegiances. Renly might be the only other man with an army who cares enough for Cassana and is decent enough to help me get her out of the capital. He is her uncle after all, and more importantly has risen against Joffrey.

"It's time for me to go home," Mother says. "I haven't seen Bran or Rickon in months."

"You can't go to Winterfell."

"I beg your pardon?" she exclaims.

"I'll send Rodrik to watch over the boys," I assure her. "Tomorrow, you'll ride south to the Stormlands."

"Why in the names of all the Gods-"

"Because I need you to negotiate with Renly Baratheon. He's rallied an army of a hundred thousand. You know him, you know his family."

"You know his family," she counters, looking me in the eye as she comments "Too well."

"Mother-"

"Don't think I can't tell the reason you are going to negotiate with Renly and not Stannis. If you want him to help you get your bride back you can go yourself."

"Mother I'm at war," I remind her. "I can't just leave."

"Yes you can," she argues. "This pact is one you need to make yourself, especially since it concerns your so called bride bride. I will stay and look after the camp, my uncle Brynden will take care of the men if anything were to happen."

"Mother-"

"Go," she orders stubbornly.
I've never felt more like a child being bossed around by his mother but I reluctantly agree "Alright I'll go, but you best not arrange anymore marriages this time I leave you in charge."

She gives me a challenging look but caves in "You are lucky you are a king or I would not hesitate to strike you for how foolish you are being with the Baratheons."

Despite her anger I embrace my mother, I need her with me in this war. "We will ally ourselves with Renly and we will all be together soon. I promise."

She smiles up at me, shaking. "You've done so well. Your father would be proud. Just please, do not let your heart betray your head."

"I'm going to the Stormlands for men, not a wife," I say, knowing Cassana is still in the capital. "I will not let these negotiations end badly."

~

Cassana

Dawn approaches. 

Knowing all I'll have is the clothes on my back once we escape I ready myself appropriately. A dress that is good for running with the necklace my mother gave me around my neck. If worst comes to worst I can sell it. I wear the golden Baratheon belt father gave me around my waist as always. I'd bring the sword Jon gave me if I could but I know the guards would never allow me to be armed, so I've placed it beneath my bed for now. When Tyrion comes I'll ask him to keep it in his chambers for safekeeping.

Bree should be coming to meet me any minute now, once dawn comes Tyrion will come and take us to the stables. Then once night falls blood will be spilled.

I stand before my window looking North, soon I'll be with him. Soon I'll have to face him after all I've done. 

As I stick my head out the window I hear the door open "Are you ready?" I ask looking out and noticing the sun begin to rise. "Tyrion should be here soon."

By the time I hear the clunk of armour the dagger is already at my throat "The Imp won't be coming."

Oh gods.

I stand deadly still as my mind races trying to figure a way out of this but there isn't. Not with a blade at my throat.

"You heard the kings orders," another guard interrupts. "We have our fun with her then we bring him her head."

The knifes blade kisses my throat as I'm thrown to the ground, not wasting a moment I dart to the door only to be grabbed by the hair and tossed against another guard who wraps his hand around my throat causing me to scream from sharp searing pain. "You're a pretty thing aren't you." His thumb moves over my lips and he pushes it inside my mouth "So it is true what they say, you are a little whore-" he screams as I bite down and feel the bone crush beneath my teeth. 

When I pull myself from his grasp I do not bolt for the guarded door but to my sword. My feet are kicked out from under me and I hit the floor hard, crawling forward and reach under my bed, grasping the my sword as I'm dragged across the floor screaming, praying for Tyrion to come. I'm flipped onto my back and my sword impales the guard who attempts to pin me down.

The man is ripped off me and before I can even muster the strength to get to my feet I'm grapped by the hair and thrown onto my bed. My body tries to fight as he opens my legs but I'm too weak, he covers my mouth to muffle the screaming but before he can violate me his throat is opened from ear to ear. He falls against me, his blood spilling onto me and over his shoulder Bree stands there with a knife in hand.

"Bree!" I scream but it's too late. A sword thrusts through her stomach and I watch in horror as she falls to the ground.

The last guard looks at me on the bed and licks his lips as he walks over, I reach down and grasp the sword of the dead guard who still lays upon me, pinning me down under his weight. As the body's pulled off me I unsheathe the shortsword and thrust with all my might, burying it in his neck.

He stumbles backwards and hits the ground.

"Bree," I cry as I leap off the bed and fall to my knees beside her, she begins choking on blood as she tries to speak "Hold on, I'll get Tyrion. He'll find the maester-"

She simply shakes her head "I'm dying Cassana."

I shake my head desperately. "No, you can't die."

She holds my face with bloody hands "Run. Get out of this city and take your throne."

"I am not leaving you," I insist, clutching her bloody hand in my own. "I can't go North without you, I can't do this without you."

"You can," she smiles tearfully. "And you will."

Her eyes go still and I finally lose it. "No, no," I scream clutching my friends body in my arms "No!"

The door again opens and I jump as I turn to see Tyrion gaping at me in horror "Help her. Please."

He half stumbles as approaches me and trembles "I can't help her, she's gone. You need to leave."

"No!" I scream between gritted teeth. Looking down into her lifeless eyes my bloody hand touches her wild red hair "No. I'm not leaving without her."

He looks to the dead Gold Cloaks on the ground "Cassana who ordered this?"

"Joffrey," I growl and he grabs my chin to force me to look at him.

"More guards will come, he's ordered Roberts bastards to be killed and he's included you among them. You need to leave this city now."

"Do you think Tywin will give me mercy?" I scream hysterically and he covers my mouth. 

"I'm not sending you to him. Get up now!"

"No!"

He forcibly tears me from her. "You can't avenge her if your dead!"

And so I stop fighting him and force myself to my feet.

"Get something to cover yourself, gods something to cover your face. You can't let anyone see the blood."

With shaking hands I grab Jon's cloak and pull the hood over myself, as a last thought I grab my sword before Tyrion pushes me out the door. I look back to see her one last time. The truest friend I will ever know.

A friend I loved.

"Gendry," I ramble as he guides me form the room. "My bastard brother, a smith in Fleebototm, you need to help him."

"He'll already be dead," he says and orders "Keep your head down." Shaking I obey as we walk through the halls until we come to an abrupt stop as I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"Cassana, sweetheart I wanted to see you before you left," Mother says and I can't even manage to blurt out words of protest before she turns me to face her and pulls back my hood. "Oh gods. What happened? What happened!"

"Your bastard son," Tyrion spits and with a shaking hand she reaches forward and touches my cut and bruised throat "He tried to have her killed."

"He tried to have me raped," I say, almost inaudibly but they still hear. I look to my mother and I've never seen such horror in her eyes.

"Get her out of this city," she orders grasping my bloody face with tears in her eyes. "I never thought-"

"Seven hells Cersei!" Tyrion snaps. "You put that monster on the throne and now-"

"I know," she screams at him, her voice echoing through the halls and she shakes her head desperately as she pulls me into her arms. "I'm so sorry."

"Mother," I whisper as she holds the Lannister lion I wear around my neck in her shaking hand.

She looks to Tyrion and orders. "Get my daughter out of this city."

Tyrion begins pulling me away and I look over my shoulder to see her fall to her knees as she breaks down "Mother!"

A sob escapes her as she looks up at me with tears staining her cheeks.

The next thing I know Tyrion's pulling me through an unfamiliar door and down a flight of stairs.

"Secret passageway. Come on. We need to get you to the stables."

I blindly stumble through the darkness until he pulls me into the daylight. The sound of dozens of hooves has him pulling us down behind barrels. I look up to see two dozen Gold Cloaks as well as another dozen of the best equipped Lannister guards riding north shouting "Find the Princess!"

"Shit!" Tyrion curses. "They knew you'd try to go north to Robb after his demands. They'd already have a dozen of men North on the Kings Road."

"Then where do I go?" I panic knowing that I cannot face them, even if I manage to evade them more men will be sent North after me. I will never make it to the Riverlands.

"South," he answers "Go to the Stormlands, go to Renly."

"Renly betrayed me."

"No more than the rest of that keep, he at least won't take your head. In the chaos I agree and he gives me a leg up onto my horse "Sansa," I cry "Set her free, save that poor girl."

"I will," he promises. "Now go."

And so with blood and tears staining my face I ride south.

I ride for the Stormlands.