Sitting down at the trunk of the weir wood tree Cassie breathed a sigh of relief finally being able to relax after the long day.
She debated kicking off her shoes but decided against it as Jon sat down beside her.
"I'm sorry about earlier Jon. I know it's a sensitive topic for you." She was too embarrassed by her behaviour that morning she didn't want to look at him so she started picking at the grass by her feet.
After a moment or two he stopped her hand from pulling any more grass keeping his grasp on it as well. "Thank you. I know it was a harmless joke; I shouldn't have reacted so strongly. You of all people know what it's like to be missing a parent."
She nodded agreeing to his last statement. Her mother had come to Lord Stark's father 22 years ago and he'd been gracious enough to give her a job. 3 years later Cassie was born, and her mother refused to name her father. Therefore Snow became her last name.
"It's not easy being a Snow. But it could always be worse." She added as she finally looks to his eyes. He smiled at her and nodded.
"Exactly. Now enough of this sad talk. Tell me about your day." He said with the smile never leaving his face.
They sat like that for over an hour like they did most evenings, until it was nearly too dark to see.
"Jon I think its time we left. Mamma will be expecting me back soon." Cassie said standing up, brushing the leaves and bits of grass from her skirt and held out her hand to help him up.
He accepted standing up as well. Following her lead and ridding himself of the leaves. "I agree. You have earlier mornings than I do. Let's go"
She took his arm and the walked back through the God's wood, and the gates until finally they got to the servants quarters.
Cassie looked up to Jon's eyes and grinned at him. "Thank you for another lovely evening Lord Snow" she said with the jesting 'title' she'd bestowed on him.
He rolled his eyes but smiled none the less at her joke. "It's been my pleasure Lady Snow," he said and took her hand and kissed it, keeping the jest going.
Though she knew he was just keeping their little joke going she couldn't help but blush a little. Thanking the gods for the darker candlelight.
Cassie in a burst of self-confidence took Jon's other hand using it as leverage as she went onto her tiptoes and planted a small peck onto his cheek.
"Thank you again. I'll see you tomorrow" she smiled letting go of his hands and quickly slipping through the door to her bedchamber before getting an answer from him.
After lighting another candle in the room she undressed for the night. Her mother could wait until tomorrow. Cassie's heart was still beating fast as she thought about what she just did.
'I just kissed Lord Stark's son. His bastard son, but still. It wasn't proper. I should apologize to him on the morrow'
'But you don't really want to.' A small voice said in her head as she blew out her candles and laid down in bed. 'But if he didn't like it, you could get in trouble. You might not be a lady but you should have more sense than that.'
Cassie's inner turmoil carried on through the night, until she finally got some sleep still worrying about what tomorrow would bring.
"You're acting strange today Cassie, what's going on"
Snapping out of her thoughts Cassie looked up to see Hanna the main hall server who often helped around the kitchen.
Cassie shrugged " Just have a lot on my mind today." Putting the freshly peeled potatoes into the pot as she spoke Cassie looked at Hanna. "It's nothing to worry about"
Hanna rolled her eyes not believing her as usual. "If you don't want to tell me it's fine but we can't really have distractions right now with all the events coming up."
She had a good point. There were birthdays coming up in the household plus the rumours were finally confirmed the King Robert was coming to Winterfell within a month and the whole staff was in full preparation mode.
"I know." Cassie said a little sadly as she stirred the pot of stew. "Is there anything else you need Hanna?"
Hanna shook her head "Nope, I'm just going now. I'll see you later!" Taking a few mid-day meal trays with her
Cassie smiled as her friend left the kitchen running out the door. But the next person in through the it was someone Cassie could help but be annoyed at.
"Hello sweetheart" he said in his usual smugness.
Theon Greyjoy. Lord Stark's ward, and one of the most smug and rude people in the whole castle.
"What can I do for you Theon?" She said polite but not without a hint of annoyance.
He hesitated for a moment but the walked closer to her and leaned on the wooden counter top.
"How many times have I told you, it's Lord Theon, and I'm just here to see you Cassie." He said eyeing her up and down that made Cassie feel for lack of better description uncomfortable.
"Well LORD Theon, I would appreciate greatly if you would call me by my full name. Cassie is reserved for close friends and kin." She said trying to focus on her work stirring the stew pot so the contents would boil too hard.
"Well we've known each other for nearly 10 years now, I'd say we're friends." That had been true; Theon had been a ward of Lord Stark. And yes there had been a time where she had felt sympathy for the Greyjoy. But those days had long passed and she could now no longer stand to be around him much.
"What's going on here?" Came a booming voice walking out of the large back pantry.
Cassie tried to not make an audible sigh of relief. George the head chef came walking into the main part of the kitchen.
"Are you distracting my workers Greyjoy." He said in a most intimidating way.
"No Ser. I was just merely hoping to make a request of the kitchen and say hello to my friend here" Theon replied clearly trying to keep his composure
"We'll make it snappy, she's got work to do" he said giving the man a threatening glare.
Theon hastily wrote down a request for her and left the kitchen quickly. Being one of the few servants who could read she scanned his note.
Dismissing it she laid it on the pile of others quickly returning to her work.
"If he comes stickin' 'is nose in here anymore girl come get me. I'll straighten 'im out." George said in a stern and concerned voice. "I know ye don't like 'is advances of ye"
Cassie nodded understanding the command as she got back to her work. Theon had become more insufferable as he got older. At least to Cassie anyway. She'd heard a lot of rumours about him from other girls in the servant's quarters, and not entirely good ones.
Even so Cassie continued on her work, events from the last few days swirling through her mind. Trying to pay it no mind and just get through these next few weeks as smoothly as possible.
