**8 Years Later**
"Jon! Robb! Theon! Hurry up!" Cassia exclaimed.
They quickly rode through the gates, trying to get home in time for supper. She would have just enough time to clean up if the boys would hurry. Although it was an option to leave them behind, she found it difficult to do so, never wanting to miss Jon's jests, Theon's sarcastic jabs, or Robb's clever retorts.
Once their steeds were safely in the stable, Cassia raced Jon up the stairs. He easily beat her, but breathing hard and laughing, it did not much matter.
"Hurry up, Cassia," he teased, looking behind him.
She cast a look towards Robb, who was grinning as he gained on them. Cassia's chamber was first in the line. She and Adaira had split a few years ago, each needing her own space. There couldn't have been more difference between the two chambers. Cassia's room was full with small keepsakes from the Nautic Keep. Several months after the Greyjoy Rebellion, some men brought back items that survived the house's sacking. Cassia took pieces – figurines or weapons of her mother, father and brothers – while Adaira collected books and letters, mementos of the past. The only thing in common was that neither chamber could quite be considered clean although very different items scattered their desks and tables.
"Am I to see you into supper?" Robb asked, peeking his head into the doorway before continuing down the hall.
Cassia laughed, "I can manage. See to Adaira if you want."
Robb smiled and hurried down the hall as Cassia shook her head at the eldest Stark boy. The Umbers were visiting Winterfell, and although Lady Stark had insisted upon social niceties the first day, the children had long grown tired of them by the fourth.
Cassia pulled herself together at record pace. Her long brown hair fell in loose curls. Although not styled, it suited her well as she hurried towards her sister's room. Adaira was staring intently at the mirror, attempting to pull her hair back as she wanted but not having much luck.
As Cassia entered the room, the younger girl smirked, "You took long enough."
"Those boys are not as fast as they claim," Cassia returned, getting a laugh from Adaira.
"Was that teasing not enough to push them?"
"I failed to mention it."
Adaira cast a knowing glance, "You should hold back less."
Cassia shrugged a response before turning her attention back to her sister, "And what are we doing with your hair?"
"Not enough, is it?"
"No," Cassia answered with a small smile.
She took the brush and then put a braid along the side of the top half of Adaira's hair, pulling it softly behind her head while the bottom half of her hair hung lose.
"Perfect," Cassia added.
Adaira looked back, unimpressed in the mirror, but before Cassia could question her, the door opened.
"Are you familiar with knocking?" Adaira demanded.
In front of her stood a tall, handsome boy with cold hazel eyes that appeared utterly disinterested in her comments.
"I'm here for your sister, not you," Theon replied, his tone droning in response.
Adaira's eyes sparked, ready to reply until Cassia interrupted.
"Theon, Adaira, please not tonight." The elder Devenny girl turned to Theon as she asked, "What is it?"
"Robb told his mother you declined his arm, so she sent me instead," Theon explained.
Adaira scoffed, "Terrible trade."
Theon's hazel eyes turned an ashen grey as he glared at her. "You should be so lucky."
Now, Adaira stood, but as usual, Cassia put herself in between them, "Stop it! Adaira, I will see you downstairs."
The younger Devenny's lips turned downwards into a frown as she watched Cassia walk towards a smirking Theon Greyjoy. The boy offered his arm, which her sister obligingly took. Adaira avoided his gloating stare, shaking her head in irritation, until a voice called to her in the doorway.
"I suppose you are stuck with me then," Robb stated.
"This is awful," Adaira returned, but she could not keep the teasing smirk from her face for long as Robb joined her in a laugh. She slipped her arm into his with no hesitation but couldn't help but blush when he tucked her closely to his side. Quickly, she redirected her eyes at the ground, hoping her best friend hadn't noticed how often her cheeks reddened around him lately.
"Your hair looks pretty, Adaira," he complimented.
"As does yours," she countered with a grin. "I think you spend longer it than I do on mine."
"And I think you have me confused for my brother."
"Sure, Robb," she smiled, patting his arm playfully.
As they entered the Great Hall, just steps behind Cassia and Theon, Robb leaned over and made a joke about how the mummery had begun. They walked to the front of the hall, bowing to the visiting Umbers, bowing to Eddard and Catelyn, and then took the long way over to the table that seated all of the children. Luckily, Lady Stark had permitted Jon to join them for the festivities, since the visiting house was of lower standing and was closely knit with the Stark family.
Sansa was sitting up perfectly straight and eating very carefully, a seamless little lady. Arya sat beside her, slumped and bored. Bran was across the table, excitedly telling Jon about his adventures of the day, while Rickon looked on with the enthusiasm of any small child. Theon made some snarky remark about how he was too old to be seated with children, and Adaira couldn't help but roll her eyes when she saw how enthusiastically her sister laughed at the jape. As Robb pulled out her chair, he gave her arm a reassuring squeeze as he leaned in and whispered in her ear. She felt the blush return to her cheeks.
"Ignore him tonight, Adaira. The Umbers will leave tomorrow, and then you can say whatever you'd like."
She just nodded in response as she took her seat next to Robb and across from her sister.
"So, sister, how did you spend your day while the boys and I were off riding?" Cassia asked, sending her a warm smile.
"What do you think she did, Cassia, she probably just sat alone with a book all day," Theon said with a roll of his eyes.
Adaira didn't even acknowledge that he spoke. "I actually went out to the godswood. Lord Eddard came there right as I was about to leave, and we had a nice talk. Then I came back and taught the girls' music lesson so that Septa Mordane could rest, you know she hasn't been feeling well lately," she said, before Sansa excitedly spoke up.
"She did, and it was wonderful. Adaira has such a lovely voice, and she even teaches us how to dance to some of the songs we learn," Sansa exclaimed.
"Arya, what did you think of Adaira's music lesson?" Theon said mockingly, knowing the youngest Stark girl would surely side with him.
"It was actually a little fun," Arya admitted, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Adaira teaches Sansa the songs about maidens and love, and to me, she teaches me songs about knights and battles and ships. When she teaches Sansa how to dance, she teaches me how to move like a knight or walk like I'm on a ship at sea during a storm."
"And what would she know about walking on a ship during a storm," Theon scoffed. "She was but a baby the last time she even saw the ocean."
"Theon, you were right about one thing, though. I did read a book today," Adaira turned her green gaze sharply to him, her tone too sugary sweet. "It was a book about sea creatures, written by a man from the Summer Isles. There was a passage in it about krakens, and it said when they feel threatened, they retreat into the depths. I was amazed to find that trait is true of all krakens, both under and above the water."
He jutted his jaw out stubbornly, and his eyes flashed with anger. "Adaira, remind me, what is the sigil of House Devenny? A starfish? Do I need to read you a passage about what krakens can do to starfish? I believe you have one such book in your possession already," he spat back as he stood from the table.
Adaira remained seated, her eyes boring into Theon's. From across the table, Cassia let out a sad sigh and bit her lip, never sure of how to disarm the two once they began fighting. She met eyes with Jon from across the table, who looked offered her a small, supportive smile.
"Why don't you show me, Greyjoy? There's a starfish right here waiting on the kraken to make its move."
"One of these days, you will see that you should never have provoked me, little girl," Theon threatened, leaning further over the table, until Robb stood up and diverted his attention.
"Have you forgotten yourself, friend?" he asked calmly, but Cassia noticed that something in the way he angled his body between Theon and Adaira was anything but.
Theon let out a sigh and stormed from the table without another word. As Robb sat back down, Cassia stood.
"Please pardon me," she said softly before following Theon out of the hall.
He had a good lead on her, his long legs already taking him out into the courtyard before she caught up with him.
"Theon, please, wait," she called after him. He stopped near the center of the yard, but as soon as she caught up with him and extended a hand to touch his arm, he whirled around to look at her.
"What do you want, Cassia?" he snapped.
"I just want some peace. Why must you two fight like you do?"
"It's her fault. She's hated me from the moment she met me."
"She's three years younger than you, Theon. At what point will you stop prompting her?" Cassia's voice was soft, more pleading than chiding. In response, he just sighed, running a hand through his already tousled hair.
"Let's go back inside before Lady Catelyn notices we're gone," she continued. "But please, let the fighting go for tonight. You can escort me back in and we can start over like this never happened, okay?"
"Fine. But you owe me a dance. It'll keep me busy so your little sister's antics won't," he said, a small smile breaking his frustration.
"As you wish, my lord," she jested, taking his offered arm.
"Oh, and Cass? If you promise not to tell Adaira, I'll let you in on the truth between krakens and starfish."
"What's that?"
"The two creatures live together in complete harmony. Neither ever gives the other trouble. The ocean's too big for pointless quarrels."
"If only the same could be said about people," she said wistfully, a sad smile on her face as he pushed open the heavy oaken door.