The Snowsands rested on the edge of the world.
The castle was built so close to the sea that during the icy winter storms, the waves would crash upon the thick, tall stonewalls, creating sheets of forbidding ice, threatening to break upon any nearby ships. It was said the sea could never breach the great barricade of the Nautic Keep, and that the castle served as a barrier between the fury of the ocean and the outlying town. Inside the Nautic Keep resided House Devenny, the rulers and protectors of the Snowsands.
North of the Stony Shore and due west of Winterfell, the clear blue waters and white, windy beaches the city was named for made the Snowsands among the most beautiful places in the North. Though during storms, the scenic location proved more dangerous than idyllic, the townspeople loved their seaside home, and were equally as enamored with their rulers. Lord Andrei Devenny and Lady Calleah were benevolent and brave leaders. Andrei had the look of the North – dark haired, light skinned and sharp features. He was a handsome man with dark green eyes and a thick, neat beard. Only a few grey hairs protruded, thanks largely to his children. His wife, Calleah, hailed from a smaller house in The Reach and nearly wasn't allowed to marry Andrei. Her father feared he was sending a flower to wither and die in the snow. With long caramel-colored hair, tanned skin and bright blue eyes, her beauty brought suitors from all across Westeros to line up for a chance at her hand. Once Calleah met Andrei, though, she refused to marry anyone but the Northman, much to her father's dismay. And, once married, the pair had an amiable albeit occasionally troublesome brood of children, three boys - Davian, Torrett and Ryen - and two girls – Cassia and Adaira.
Davian was everything an oldest son should be: strong, honorable, brave and dashing. Torrett was born to be his brother's right hand, all brains, wit and charisma. Ryen, the youngest of the boys, never could escape from his brothers' shadows, though he tried. He was a talented swordsman, but lacked Davian's brute strength and natural leadership. He was charming and intelligent, but never could think things through as thoroughly as Torrett. Most of all, though, Ryen had a penchant for adventure and adrenaline that kept him on the path of most resistance. Despite his efforts and good intentions, all Ryen could ever manage to do better than his brothers was get into trouble.
The two Devenny girls couldn't have been more different from one another. Cassia was courageous and courteous, and reminded everyone in the Snowsands of her lord father. Her dark hair, light skin and green eyes matched his, but her features were softened in comparison. Adaira, though, was a smaller version of her mother - clever and curious, with a love of learning. She even looked like her mother, with her light curls and round face, but she had Andrei's dark green eyes.
While Cassia was often seen playing at swordfighting with her brothers, Adaira was much happier to sit by and occupy herself with her books or with music lessons. Adaira may have been less energetic than her older sister, but she made up for it with her outspokenness. The older girl, though less than ladylike in playtime, had her courtesies mastered, while the younger spoke her mind, regardless of the content or the company.
When the Greyjoy Rebellion began, Cassia was only nine, and Adaira only seven. Davian, 17, and Torrett, 15, were both old enough to fight alongside Lord Andrei in his support of House Stark and King Robert against Balon Greyjoy. At 12, Ryen was old enough to understand the gravity of what was happening and to want to join the other men in fighting, even as a squire, but his father and mother would hear none of it.
"The battle is no place for a child," Lord Andrei always chided his youngest son, but Lady Calleah soothed him, saying, "If you go to battle with your father and brothers, who will protect your sisters and I?"
Adaira understood little of the pending danger. At seven, she knew nothing of wars and sieges and usurpers that she hadn't read about in one of the books Maester Wavven had given her. All she knew was that her family was leaving her, and she would miss them dearly. Davian wouldn't hoist her over his broad shoulder and carry her around the Nautic Keep like a rag doll, as he often did, nor would he sing with her in his jovial and booming voice. She wouldn't be able to pester Torrett with incessant questions about history and language, dying to learn as much as her smart older brother. From across the sea, her father wouldn't be there to tuck her in at night and kiss her forehead, whispering, "Dream of summer, little one," and she wouldn't see the smile in his eyes every time she told him about something new she had learned. All she would be left with was Ryen, who always seemed to get her into trouble; Cassia, who had little interest in discussing her lessons with her little sister; and her mother, who always chided her for speaking out of turn, though Adaira had seen her do it herself many a time.
Like Ryen, Cassia desperately wanted to go to battle with her father and elder brothers. She kept her complaints to herself, though, knowing there was no chance for her. She had spent as much time as possible with her elder brothers and father the fortnight before they left, forcing Torrett to explain various battle strategies, Davian to train her in swordfighting, and traipsing after her father as often as she could. When they left, the Nautic Keep felt colder than before. Cassia went about her lessons, minded her manners when she was not practicing her sword exercises, but she often found herself sitting alone in the hidden room she found once while exploring with Davian or pouring over maps of squadrons and contingencies with Maester Wavven. She was far too young to understand the intricacies of battle, but tried to memorized the names, locations, and what tactics she could as she imagined herself fighting with her brothers and father.
But, there was one contingency unplanned for.
With the majority of the men away helping fight the battle, there were few left to protect the city from any sort of invasion. None thought they would need protection – after all, the high, heavy walls of the Nautic Keep protected them from the ocean, they thought it could protect them from whatever evils may come via its waves. All those hopes were broken against the Keep's stonewalls when the krakens came ashore.