Theon sat at the desk in the tent which he and Robb resided in. The eldest Stark boy deemed it necessary to keep Theon close to him. Space was also an issue in the camp for Robb had given his own tent up for his mother. He thought that sharing with Theon would have been no issue. That was until his mother broke the news of the eldest Frey boy marrying Cassandra.
Robb was perched on his bed, his head in his hands as he contemplated the mess which had suddenly come upon them. Facing the Lannister army seemed easy in comparison to the wrath he would face from Cassandra. His own marriage to a Frey girl did not bother him at that moment in time. He would be able to pick the girl. He also doubted she would be in her sixties. But, Cassandra had already given her affections to another. To the man sat in front of Robb.
"What are you doing?" Robb asked Theon.
The ward said nothing for a few moments, his eyes cast down as he looked at the blank piece of parchment which rested on the wood before him. What was he doing? He had intended to write to Cassandra. He wanted her to know that he would come back for her. But he couldn't. His allegiance had been sworn to Robb. He had been overlooked one more time.
"Nothing," Theon declared, screwing the piece of paper up and throwing it onto the floor. He dropped his head into his hands, elbows resting on the wooden desk as he took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry," Robb declared after a brief moment. He knew his apologies would not do any good. They would make no difference to Theon. But Robb had to say it, all the same.
"It is not me who you should be apologising to," Theon spoke back, his voice a low whisper as he did so. "It is your sister."
"I didn't want this," Robb said.
"You did nothing to stop it."
"I need to cross," Robb snapped back. "Mother told me that this was the only option. I had to do it. There was no other choice, Theon."
"Your sister-"
"-My father rots in a dungeon," Robb snapped before Theon could continue with his rant. The hostage of Winterfell turned around in his seat, looking at the boy who he saw as a brother. "My father needs me, Theon. Cassandra will understand."
"You think so?"
"I hope so," Robb said. "I wrote to her with mother earlier. Lord Walder's son rides for Winterfell as soon as possible."
Theon gulped down the lump which formed in his throat. He had heard of Stevron Frey. He was Lord Walder's trueborn son. There were not many trueborn sons of Lord Walder. Theon knew that much. He couldn't even begin to imagine it. He couldn't imagine Cassandra sitting by a sixty year old man, dutifully smiling and obeying to his every whim. He didn't even want to contemplate how he would expect her to keep him company at night.
Closing his eyes, Theon pushed the thought from his mind. The thought of someone else touching her and laying with her. It sickened him more than he cared to show.
"I know that you would leave here and go back for her," Robb informed Theon. His eyes snapped open again to find Robb's orbs staring at him intently. "I know that you would take her somewhere for your own."
Theon held his tongue, wanting to do nothing more than tell Robb he had already had her for his own.
"But you need to stay with me, Theon. You need to let this happen."
"She will hate me." Theon mumbled. "She will detest me."
"She will come to understand, in time," Robb assured Theon. "Besides, when we return to Winterfell then she will go back with him to the Twins."
"She becomes the dutiful wife your mother always wanted her to be," Theon snarled. There was no denying that he held Catelyn to account for what was to happen to Cassandra. Theon blamed her for this entire mess. He couldn't blame Robb as much. Robb had always been like a brother to him.
Robb inhaled sharply. "Mother did what needed to be done."
"Did she?" Theon wondered. "How fortunate for Cassandra."
"Stop it, Theon," Robb snapped at the ward. Robb stood up and pulled the furs to his bed back. He climbed into them, keeping himself warm as he felt his head begin to pound. "I know you are upset. But you know as well as I that nothing could have ever happened between you and Cassandra. You knew it, yet you carried on."
Theon glared at Robb. He grabbed his cloak and flung it over his shoulders, fastening it around his neck.
"What would you know, Robb?" Theon wondered. "You've never loved before, have you? You have no idea what it is like to have the one person you care for ripped from you."
"Duty comes first, Theon," Robb warned his friend. "Where are you going in the middle of the night?"
"I doubt I will be able to sleep," Theon snapped at Robb. He stormed out of the tent and wandered aimlessly through the encampment. The men who were on watch that night knew better than to cross Theon and his foul temper. Word had spread how the young Greyjoy had stormed from the tent as soon as he had been informed that Lady Cassandra was to marry Lord Stevron.
Gossip had travelled through the ranks, only to be confirmed by a group of Stark men that Theon and Cassandra were closer than they should have been.
Theon didn't care for gossip. He had no time for it.
He stopped on the edge of the camp, hearing the sound of horse's neighs enter his ears. He could ride back and take her. He could do it without a moment of hesitation. But he didn't. Lord Frey would kill both of them if they found him. Theon would be a traitor along with Cassandra. He didn't want that for her. He didn't want any of this for her.
If only he was a Lord. If only he was Lord of the Iron Islands. Ironborn took what was theirs.
She was his.
Theon would show them. He would show them that they couldn't have her. He just needed a way to make that happen.
...
Cassandra had been in charge of Winterfell for five days when the raven came to her. She had been carrying on her brother's duties. She made sure the people of Winterfell were looked after during the cold months. She made sure that maids were happy, along with the remaining guards who had stayed behind. She learnt about how to handle finances to make sure she did not bankrupt the kingdom.
"No," Cassandra said firmly to the maester on the fifth day. "I need to go to Bran and Rickon. I have not been able to dine with them for these past few days. They need to see that they still have a sister."
Luwin regarded her with interest for a moment. She stood up from the long table, smoothing her red skirt out as she looked back down at Luwin. She knew that she had been curt with the maester recently. He was constantly seeking her out for one thing or another when she tried to steal a moment of peace. Matters were not helped by the fact that he knew what she and Theon had done. She always felt as if his gaze was questioning her.
"As you wish, Lady Stark," he bowed his head and finished writing in the large book on the table.
Cassandra rushed away from the hall, holding her breath until she was out of the door. The relief she felt was great as she rushed down the hallways to the small hall. It was much more private for her and the boys to receive their meals. Her direwolf was sat with Shaggydog and Summer underneath the table. Mericia barely left her side now. She spent her nights on the bottom of Cassandra's bed and her days were spent with the other wolves.
"Cassandra," Rickon called out, a smile on his face at the sight of his sister.
"What are you doing here?" Bran wondered as he ate another chicken leg.
Cassandra sat beside Rickon, ruffling his hair. "I've finished my duties for the day so I thought I would spend some time with my favourite boys."
"We haven't seen you all week," Bran complained to her.
Rickon ate another piece of meat as a plate was set in front of Cassandra.
"I've been busy," Cassandra said. "You know how difficult it is to look after Winterfell. There are many people who require my attention."
"But you like us the most, don't you?" Rickon checked with his sister.
"Of course," she smiled as she picked up a slice of cheese which sat in front of her. She began to chew on it before drinking some of the water in a goblet.
"Has there been any news from Robb?" Bran wondered.
Cassandra kept silent, looking down onto the plate of food in front of her. She shook her head slowly, reaching for a slice of bacon as she did so.
"No," she whispered. "I am sure he is fine. He must be busy."
Rickon said nothing to her response, choosing to keep quiet. He knew that something bad would happen to them. He was sure of it. But no one believed him. No one believed what he said. He was only a small Stark.
"Lady Stark."
Cassandra groaned audibly as she saw Maester Luwin from over Bran's shoulder. He heard her moans and pursed his lips. She never acted with the dignity of a lady. He had come to see that much. She regained her composure after a moment and forced herself to smile at the maester.
"What can I do for you?" Cassandra wondered.
"A raven came in your mother's scrawl."
Cassandra instantly jumped up from the bench she sat on. She picked her skirts up over her ankles before taking the parchment from him. It was still sealed, waiting to be opened. Cassandra wasted no time in unravelling the parchment before she commenced to read it.
Bran watched his sister with interest as her eyes scanned the page. And then he saw her pale further than what was normal. Her chest began to heave and she remained silent.
"Maester," Bran said. "Something is wrong with Cassandra."
Luwin moved his eyes to Cassandra as she dropped the parchment from her hold. It tumbled to the floor as she lost consciousness, her body hitting the floor before anyone could do anything.
...
Cassandra knew that she was awake again. She didn't want to be. She hoped it had all been a sick joke. She hoped that no one was serious. She recalled her mother's words. Her mother telling her how she was sorry. Telling her how she didn't want this for her.
Cassandra was being married off for a bridge.
"You fainted."
She slowly peeled her eye open as Luwin spoke to her. She noted that she was laid on top of the furs on her bed as she pushed herself to slowly sit up. Luwin stood up and poured a goblet of water for her. She took it from his hands, draining the liquid off with haste.
"Did you read it?" Cassandra asked from him.
"I did," Luwin nodded. "Lord Frey arrives in Winterfell in the next few days. He is to wed you as soon as he arrives. Your mother made that clear."
"He is in his sixties," Cassandra whispered, the disbelief in her voice evident. "Robb has willingly traded me for a bridge...a man who I do not know...who I do not love..."
Luwin said nothing. The girl may have been stubborn and ride sometimes, but she did not deserve to marry some man thrice her age.
"Lord Stevron is said to be one of the nicest of the Frey sons," Luwin said it as if it would appease Cassandra. Nothing would appease Cassandra now.
"I fail to care," Cassandra replied. "I cannot marry him...I told...Theon..."
Luwin inhaled sharply, not even bothering to imagine what she had told the young Greyjoy boy.
"Theon will understand," Luwin told her. "The talk of you two runs through Winterfell. It will be quashed when Lord Stevron arrives."
"And when he marries me and finds out that I am not innocent?" Cassandra wondered from him. "What will he think then? He will see that I can never love him. I never want to love him."
"He may feel the same," Luwin simply said. "He may not want this. As for your issue...well...claim that your horse took your maidenhead from you."
Cassandra shook her head, her hand running down her cheek as she felt sick at the news of being married.
"Your mother would not have done this unless there was no other option," Luwin told her. "You have to stay in Winterfell for your brothers. Think of them as you go through this."
"And when I am taken from Winterfell?" Cassandra wondered. "What do you suggest I should do then?"
Luwin said nothing for he had no suggestion for her. He had no piece of information which could make this any easier. Her attention turned to Theon for a moment. She had promised him that she would wait for his return. What was she to do now?
"Has Theon written?" Cassandra asked from Luwin.
"No," he replied. "There is nothing that you can do now, my Lady."
Cassandra shook her head, moving to stand away from the bed.
"Do Rickon and Bran know?" she asked.
"I told them earlier, my Lady. The boys are more concerned over your welfare than anything. They also seem to be under the belief that you cannot marry, Lord Stevron for you are to wed Theon Greyjoy when he returns. I have to admit that this is news in Winterfell, my Lady."
Cassandra groaned loudly, her head shaking back and forth as she looked to the parchment which sat on her desk.
"I will go to the boys in a moment," she said. "I need some time alone."
"As you wish, Lady Stark." He agreed and left her alone in her room.
Night had fallen over Winterfell, dousing it in darkness as Cassandra took to her desk. She looked at the parchment, empty and waiting for her to write something. She should respond to her mother. She should tell her how angry she was. How scared she was. And how heartbroken she was. Cassandra snorted a laugh at the last one, the back of her hand wiping her cheek.
She didn't want to write to her mother or Robb. She didn't want to speak with them about what they had agreed to. No. She wanted Theon. She wanted Theon to come back to Winterfell and marry her before the Frey man could. She began to write in ink, declaring to Theon how much she didn't want for this to happen and that she would always love him. But she had to stay in Winterfell. She could not run away for she had Bran and Rickon to consider.
Each word tore her up a little more inside. Each word made her realise how much she truly did care for Theon. She finally signed the parchment before sealing it, pressing her lips to it before she made her way to the tower. She attached it to a raven and then went to seek out Bran and Rickon.
Rickon was already sleeping by the time she found him. She let him be; knowing that he was in need of a good night's sleep. She moved down the small corridor to Bran, peeling the door open to see him sat up in bed.
"You've been crying," Bran stated the obvious.
She wiped her eyes with her fingers again, blinking profusely to rid herself of the moisture before she sat beside him on his bed.
"I'm fine," Cassandra promised him. "I thought that I should come here to explain what is happening."
"We know," Bran assured her. "You are to marry Walder Frey's heir. Robb needed to cross the Trident and it was the request. As well as Robb marrying one of the daughters."
"Yes," Cassandra said, pushing Bran's hair from his face as she kissed him on the top of his head.
"But you don't want to marry him," Bran said to her. "You want to marry Theon."
She winced at that as Bran turned to look up at her with wide eyes.
"Don't you?" he checked.
Biting down on her bottom lip she nodded once, a new wave of tears falling down her cheeks as Bran took hold of her hand. He held it tightly in his own grip, trying to reassure her that everything would be alright. Cassandra knew that her little brother should not see her in such a state. He had far too much to deal with, never mind her worries. But Bran remembered the Tully words. And he could see his sister needed someone at that moment in time and so he allowed her to sit by his side and cry for a few moments.
And cry is what she did.