CASSANDRA

That had been the longest, journey that Cassandra Baratheon had ever experienced since she had begun to travel North. The royal family had been traveling North for a month with almost half of the Red Keep court. Cassie's mother, the Queen, of course didn't want to ride on the back of an horse all the way to Winterfell, so she, Mycella and Tommen were traveling inside a huge and windowless wheelhouse, that caused their party to move so slow, that Cassie was sure that by the time they would have reached Winterfell, the winter would have arrived as well.

Cassandra was getting restless as she set on the back of her black mount, caressing its mantle with her right hand, the one covered with black ink lines. Banners of the crowned stag of the Baratheons were passing by her, but they were not the only ones.

The roaring lion of the Lannisters was moved by the cold wind of the North as Cassie could not take her blue glared away from it.

Our name is supposed to be Baratheon, she couldn't stop thinking. There was no other House that got overrun by the consort's guards.

Robert Baratheon might have been the King, but Cassandra's grandfather, Tywin Lannister, had seen it through. He had been able to put a golden lion everywhere in the Capital. Banners and people. Most of the guards were Lannisters' guards. Kings Landing was full of them. Even Sandor Clegane, that had been her mother's personal guard, when she was still a little girl; was now Joffrey's personal guard.

Turning to her left, Cassie could see the shining and golden armor of her uncle, Ser Jaime Lannister. The Lion of Lannister, people called him, or so it was when he was around. Behind his back he went by a very different name; the Kingslayer.

A nasty subject was the part that the Lannisters had during Robert Baratheon's Rebellion against the Targaryens, especially since her uncle decided to kill the King he had sworn to protect.

A vow was a vow and a duty was a duty. There was nothing that Cassandra thought more about that matter.

"Are you always this quite during your journeys to the North, dear niece?"

Dear…

Cassie turn her head to look at the little man, that was now riding next to her, observing the girl with his different color eyes. One black and the other green.

"I usually travel alone, uncle" she answered in a calm tone "I'm not used to have company to share my thought with."

"Not that the perspective on sharing them makes you eager" The man chuckled.

Tyrion Lannister. The youngest of the Lannister brothers. He was known as the Imp, because of his peculiar look. He didn't share his siblings' beauty. He was short, almost half of a man, with shor limb. His legs were crooked and his head was larger than normal. But his mind would made up for his looks. Tyrion Lannister was a smart man, very smart. Even too smart for Cassie's liking. He spoke a lot, usually trying to outsmart everyone. He knew that he could do that, so he did.

"It has been a while, Cassandra since we last spoke" Tyrion said "I always miss you on your journeys south."

That was no lie. When Cassie went South, she much rather stay in her chambers or training alone on the fields or take long walks outside of the Red Keep. She didn't like being in King's Landing, too many eyes and too many spies. The only reason that brought Cassie back to the South was her name and her title. She might not be in the line of succession, but yet she was a Baratheon.

"As I said, I'm not used to talk." she said and he chuckled again.

"Even though I think you've got some knowledge to share."

Tyrion Lannister and his old books. The dragons were his favorite, it was something he had often talked about, when Cassie was just a babe. Even if the curiosity about Keepers of Light was something that fascinated him as well.

"If there something you feel the need to ask, go ahead" Cassandra said looking at her uncle from the corner of her eyes.

Honesty is everything.

There was nothing that she had to lie about. She would have never lied.

"You are like a legend come alive, my niece" he said "It just gets me curios."

A legend coming alive. A miracle to any family, a weapon to use. Cassie didn't like to talk about her powers, and she didn't like ambition and men who mastered it. She kicked her horse to make it move a little faster, to reach the front of the caravan.

Honest men were dead.

No, maybe not.

There was just a family, that had no sign of ambition or manipulation in them. A House who lived an honest and honorable life. The only place where Cassie had ever felt a child. Not a princess, nor a Keeper of Light. Only Cassie.

There weren't many things that made Cassandra Baratheon excited, not many things that made her smile. But Winterfell only brought back happy memories; easy days were she could just lay down in the snow, running into the woods, play and dance. Cassandra had lived years after years waiting to spend just few days with in that castle, with its children.

Cassandra still remembered her first arrival in Winterfell; everything was so dark and cold, but the people were so different from the Southerners. Her mother had always said they were strange people. Once she even called them savages.

"You will be surrounded by them soon enough" Cersei said to her, before Cassie's departure from the capital "Good luck."

Cassie was five.

Her mother's words had been echoing in her head for her entire journey. She had never admitted it out loud, but she was so nervous. None of her family had gone with her, they just let two guards accompany her. Robert strangely must have sensed how uneasy she was, because he wrote his old friend, Eddard Stark, to ask if the princess could spend few days in Winterfell, before leaving for the Wall.

The nicest thing he has ever done for me, Cassie thought looking at her father rode ahead of her on his big black horse.

She wasn't supposed to go back to Winterfell on her later journeys, but Ned told her that she would have been welcomed anytime she wanted. He even wanted to take her to the Wall himself, but she refused.

"I'm a Baratheon, I'm not afraid" she answered with confidence. She was nothing more than a babe, wearing thick gloves, with big blue eyes and hair tied in a braid. She remembered Ned and his wife looking at each other with a pointed expression.

"It is good to be afraid sometimes" she remembered Ned's words still, but she had never understood them.

How can it be good to be afraid?

"Cassandra!" Cassie rolled her eyes hearing the piercing voice of her younger brother Joffrey, heir to the Seven Kingdoms.

"What do you want now, little boy?" She answered with raised brows and a bored expression. Cassandra could not remember a time where her brother hadn't bothered her. Not even once. His piercing voice followed everywhere.

And now, Here he was, the heir to the Iron Throne, shinig blond hair, on a white horse and a perfect clean sword on his waist. Lion's Tooth he had called it. Cassie never cared about swords names, but that one was really stupid. If he wanted to scare, she was afraid that he wasn't succeding. And it was clear that he had just recieved it, not even understanding what was the porpouse that came along with a sword.

Joffrey wasn't wise, or humble. He always acted like he was already a ruler. It was so annoying, but also funny at the time. Well, it was funny just to her, he could not bother her. Joff had always denied it, but he was scared of her. Indeed, he just bothered her when her hands were covered with her gloves, when her mother forced her to wear them with her brothers. She would have never done it, but hearing her mother's whinings was even worst than hearing Joffrey.

"Mother said that you are stupid if you think that this place is beautiful" at his words she nodded.

"Said the woman who thinks that you are a beauty, or a good fighter for the matter" Joff looked at Sandor, that was riding next to him on his huge mount, Stranger.

Sandor Clegane was the tallest man that she had ever seen. He always looked everyone in silence, people were usually scared by him because of his burnt face. Not all the face, just one side and it wasn't pretty, but still it wasn't the ugliest thing that she had ever seen, but maybe because she grew up with him always around. He was the one who taught the two brothers how to fight. With Cassie it had been easier, everything about fighting came so natural for her. With Joffery it had been different; everyone knew that, but no one ever dared to tell anything. Joff always wanted to prove how strong he was, especially to Sandor, sometimes Cassie thought that he wanted to impress him more than he had ever tried to impress his own father.

"Watch your tongue, Cassandra!" now she was smirking.

"What are you going to do, baby prince?" Cassie could see his face became redder and redder "Bore me to death?"

"I'll tell mother" Cassandra let out a dry laugh. Typical.

"Do it, please" she said leaning towards her brother "I was waiting for a good reason to argue with her. It is ideed a boring day." Joffrey turned his horse around and she smirked looking at him running to their mother. Then she noticed Sandor glancing at her.

"What?" She asked with a smirk, but he remain still "I'm allowed to have a little fun. The Gods have alredy mocked me enough."

Sandor had never shown his emotions, but she didn't expect him to. Not everyone could say what they wanted and Sandor was one of them. But she was sure he had a lot to say to that little child who constantly called him Dog.

Cassandra looked ahead of her and finally she saw the shape of Winterfell. It was huge, truly huge, so huge that its castle could have hosted its every single citizen. And a genuine smile appeared on her face. Just by looking at its tall towers made her forget what was around her and what she had left in the South. She wandered how the Starks had been, since on her way down she could not stop by. She wondered at how they had grown and what they had to tell her. Her smile widened.

"I'm warning you now, Cassandra" her father was next to her, he was huge on his horse and in fur cloack and her smile faded as she get back to her reality. She was no alone. That time, her staying at Winterfell would have been nothing like before.

"What?" She asked looking in his blue eyes, the same as hers.

"I promised to your mother that you would have behaved, I don't want to hear her whine about you, not even once."

Cassie rolled her eyes "You wouldn't have to make any promise to her, if you had let me leave when I had to" her plan was simple, leaving King's Landing completely and sweetly alone, spending four days with the Starks and go to the Wall when she was supposed to. As simple and perfect as it had been for nine years.

"This is an official business, Cassandra" a useless business. Her father wanted to ask Ned to become the Hand of the King. Sure, the two of them were friends, but she was sure that the man would have never left his family and his precious North to follow a man he probably won't even recognize. That meant that she had spent a full month with her brother and her lovely mother for absolutely nothing.

"You are here not as a Keeper of Light, you are here as a princess of the royal family. Whatever you do at the Wall can wait" she almost laughed. He was talking like she didn't have any duties there.

"So I am two in one. I'm rather a princess or a Keeper. Not both" Cassie said eyeing her father, that was a lie "If I remember correctly, we should be honest with our lords and people, Father."

"Aren't we always?" He asked after studied her for a moment. Cassandra took breath.

"I think that this family couldn't be honest with anyone even if the Seven themselves obligate us to be" at this he laughed. It was almost a roar and Cassie observed surprised at how true that laugh had been. There weren't many of those moments between them, but she was the only one of all her brothers who made him laugh once in a while, and that always left her astonished.

"My daughter" the King said when he stopped laughing "Sometimes I forget how happy you are to be part of all of this."

As much happy as you are, Cassie thought shaking her head and without realizing it she had passed the Winterfell main gate and people were already kneeling at their passage.

The first meeting with the Starks had went well, she had never saw her Father smiling so wide and Ned seemed happy to see him too. Lady Catelyn had greeted Cassie with a welcoming hug, like she usually did and soon Ned did the same. Their children had been all there. The Queen her mother gave a huge fake smile to the lord of Winterfell, accepting their greetings, but predictably the King hadn't even introduced his family, when he asked Ned to accompany him to the crypts. Her mother hadn't been able to surpress her furious face; pure hate what was was shown.

"Cassie, welcome back." Robb's voice reached her as she hopped down from her horse. And in a moment the Stark brothers had run to Cassie; Arya had been the first to hug her and one by one did all the others, even Cyel Sand and Jon Snow. Cassie had seen Catelyn look at them. But the eyes that burned here were those of her own family. Her mother's gaze bacame irritated as her uncles shared a look. No one had ever seen princess Cassandra Baratheon laugh or accept other people's touch. Not since she had been no more than a baby of five. As they had never seen the fondness of her look as she knelt down to hug the little boy of three that had run to her.

"You are almost as tall as me, little wolf" Cassie said picking the boy in her arm, that let out a laugh before reaching out to touch a strand of her black hair.

"I'm tall too" Bran said with joyful eyes, before Arya scoffed.

"I'm taller than both of them." she was saying as Cassie handed Rickon back at Antea.

"Antea" she said as the girl nodded in greeting.

"Cassie" she said, before looking behind Cassandra's back "Are those your brothers?" all the Stark children look in Cassie's siblings' direction; she didn't miss Sansa's cheeks as the blushed or the quick look Robb and Antea shared.

"So it seems" Cassie answered without turning her head. She knew what would have happened next. The Starks would have to meet her brothers and spend time with them. And in all honesty, Cassie didn't wish to be any part of that.

"I'll need some time for myself" Cassie said taking a breath as she turned to Robb "You'll be busy for quite some time."

He frowned "You're not staying?"

"Gods no" she answered "I entrust you them, and I'll pray for you."

"So you pray now?" Jon's voice made her chuckle as the two of them shared a gaze. She was happy to see all of them, but Jon Snow was the one she was always eager to see. No one was able to calm her like Jon Snow. It had always be like that. Always.

"I'll be looking for you later, Robb" Cassie said as she noticed her family starting to get closer, then she turned to Jon. She knew that he would have had an hard time; he was Eddard Stark's bastard and she knew that Lady Catelyn would not have presented him to the royal family like one of her own children.

"Come on Jon Snow, walk with me."

He silently thanked her as they started to walk towards the gardens. The summer snow was covering the fields and it's color merged perfectly with the decoration that had been arranged for their arrival. Cassie put down her black hood as she turned to Jon with a smile.

"Look at you" she exclaimed ruffling her friend's dark hair while they were walking making him chuckle as he tried to step back "I've never seen you all dress up like that."

He laughed lightly pushing her hand away.

"It is good to have you back, Cassie" she shook her head before giving him a light punch on the shoulder.

Lady Catelyn had worked hard to make everything look perfect, wreaths of flowers were hanging around all the gardens, it was pretty, but it was a shame that her mother surely didn't even noticed them.

People of Winterfell were accomplishing their duties but they greeted her at their passage. She knew more or less everyone in there thanks to the Starks. And not only because she used to play with lot of children, noble and not, but even because the Starks used to have dinner with their people every evening, and there was always a different man sitting next to Ned. It had been so strange to her the first time she saw it. Cassie had been used to eat alone in her chambers or with her family, when her father wanted, so it happened very rarely, let alone eating with the poor. But she had liked how people were happy to spend time with the Starks and just because they smiled at them. Even because of that she decided to spend more time in Flee Bottom and indeed her people were always happy when she went there.

"From Father's words, I've imagined the King to be quite different." Jon's words made her look at him with half of a smile.

"Because he is fat?"

Jon Snow chuckled "I've never said it."

"But that's what you think" Cassie said back looking at him amused. Everyone thought that about her father, but nobody dared to say it out loud.

"Did I offend you?" He chuckled and she glared playfully.

"You know better" Cassie said before taking a breath "But you spoke the truth. He is not who he used to be."

"Do you have memories of that?" He asked curiously and she nodded, as the air moved her black hair.

"Some" she said "But his appearance changed fast, even though my uncle Renly says that it just takes a look at me to remember the man who killed Robert Baratheon."

Renly Baratheon, her father's youngest son and probably the most liked man in the Capitol; gallant, charming and young. He often talked to Cassie, when she was south. Sometimes he would even make her lips turn in a smile, and once he even danced with her. The most embarrassing moment in Cassandra's life.

"There's something of your Queen mother's as well." Cassie got quiet. She hoped that Jon Snow was being gentle as usual. She dread to share similarities with her mother.

As Jon and Cassie entered the Godswood, she got quiet looking at that place. It was full of pools of hot water and the light mist that seemed to never go away. Countless times she and all the Stark children had played there, even with the Greyjoy boy and the little Sand. At the center of the garden there was a Weirwood tree. Those trees were strange with a white bark and deep red leaves, with a face carved on it. A face that almost whatced. Cassie could not help but to feel uneasy everytime they walked near it.

There weren't any Weirwood tree in the South, because those were the trees of the Old Gods and in Westeros only the Northners believed in them, they deeply believe in them, especially the Starks. In the South they most believed in the New Gods, or the Seven, the others lost their believes a long time ago, like Cassie. Even at the Wall people prayed the Seven, there weren't Weirwood trees. She didn't get why still praying someone who would never answer thought, she had never done it and probably she would have never will.

Suddenly, she felt something pulling her cape and turning around her eyes widened. At her feet there was a little white puppy with her cape in its mouth. It was looking at her with strange red eyes. But it wasn't a dog nor even a wolf. She knew exactly what it was, though.

It cannot be, she thought looking at the creature, you shouldn't be here.

"Ghost!" Jon Snow's voice made her looked up to him "Ghost leave her alone!" The puppy immediately run to Jon's side. It was so white that it was almost impossible to see.

"I'm sorry, Cassie" the young man said with a smile, but she didn't even pay attention.

"Where did you find it, Jon Snow?" He looked at her surprised, indeed it was the first time she had been so serious with him, but she needed to know.

"We found these puppies on the way back from…" Jon looked at her with a sorry expression.

"The execution?" She finished for him.

She knew the the law and she knew that that was the fourth man of the Night's Watch who had deserted in a very short time. Of course it had happened before to have some men that deserted, but

"Did you know the man?" Jon asked.

"Of course, I did" she replied still looking at the puppy, but then she looked up and saw her friend nodded lightly with his sorry face. Cassie didn't get why, the man new what would have happened, he made his choice.

Still even that was strange. Gared had been the fourth to desert in a short period, Cassie wasn't at the Wall when he made his choice but her friend Rose wrote her that it was like he went crazy, but she would have told her in person. First people went crazy and now they found direwolf puppies in the snow…

Puppies?

"There is more than one?" Jon Snow nodded again looking down to his puppy who was sniffing his leg.

"There are six more."

Six?

"Their mother was dead."

Seven brothers, seven direwolves south of the Wall.

Why did they came all that way?

"Cassie are you feeling well?" Jon asked with worry in his voice, she looked at him.

She was very confused. She knew of direwolves beyond the Wall, but it had been centuries that those creature had been on that side of the world. Why though? Why now?

Her gaze met Jon's. He was observing her with his grey eyes. He had always done it; studying her, understanding when she was overthinking. Jon knew she was worried and that got him curious.

Was she worried though? About what? Nothing happened. Deserters and direwolves. Nothing was happening. There was no need to scare Jon. What she was thinking about involved legends and myths. Nothing was real.

"I was just thinking…" She said looking at the puppy "Ghost, really?"

The boy smiled rolling his eyes "Come on Jon Snow, why do you hate him so? To give him such a name."

"I knew you would have said something about it" she raised her hands, in a surrender pose.

"I'm just trying to save him, my friend" Jon laughed silently.

"He is the quietest of them all" he explained, thinking that made his choice more reasonable "It fits him."

Cassie smiled rolling her eyes. The old, quiet, predictable Jon Snow. He and Robb were the ones she was more attached to, they were special to her, they had always been, since the first moment they've met. She remembered that they immediately played together and never once they treated her like she was dangerous or evil. With Antea Stark it had been another story. They had never been the closest of friends, but the first times she visited Winterfell Antea had been very jealous of Cassie, she was afraid that the new girl would have took her brothers away from her, especially Robb.

"How was your journey?" Jon asked while they set on the ground next to each other. Cassie had missed the summer snow and her hand moved so that she could touch it.

"Just a journey" she answered with a shrug.

"You are acting strange today, you know?" Jon said while his little puppy set on his lap, Cassie eyed the boy with a frown. His eyes were studying her again.

"How am I acting strange?" she asked "I've barely arrived."

"You always tell us something about your travels" he answered "But today you wanted to leave before we all could talk."

Cassie licked her lips, there was nothing to tell.

"I usually travel alone" she said "I need to talk when I see you. But this time I had company for all the way. And they were quite talkative" she shrugged her shoulders "And I thought that you would have all been busy with my family." Jon Snow didn't seem convinced and he was keep studying her.

She looked away. She didn't want to talk about her family there. Not in Winterfell, not with Jon. She had always felt her heart light behind those walls, as if she was a five years old still. Like she hadn't lived those many years. There was no reason to talk about unpleasant subjects.

"Can I ask you a question?" Cassie looked up at him as Ghost took some steps towards her, sniffing her vest.

"I've just realized you've never talked about your family, why?"

"Because there is nothing to talk about" Cassie answered simply and Jon's eyes widened in confusion.

"Come on" she exclaimed jumping on her feet to changing the subject, she didn't want to spend all her time talking about her family "Let me see if your skills have gotten better than the last time."

They had always trained together since they were children. It was very fun and the two Stark boys were good at fighting, but usually Robb trained with Greyjoy and she always made sure to be far away from them. Cassie had always had hard times with that boy. She never trusted him, never liked him.

"How long will you stay?" Jon asked once she gave him a long stick of wood while she took another.

"Less than my family that's for sure" Cassie answered moving her stick for him to block.

"I thought you would have stayed longer this time" he said attacking, but she stepped away before attacking again.

"No" Jon blocked her attack again "I have a schedule. I can't do what I want" she said swinging her weapon to prevent Jon to hit her "The Matriarch had already been kind enough."

The Matriarch had answered to her raven, giving at Cassie a special permission to stay South longer, but she would have not gone again for her next turn. That was no concern for Cassie, she had to accept anyway.

"The Wall" he said "I really want to see it."

"I have to admit, it can make quite the impression" she answered "Huge and made of ice, I had always told you you would love it."

"How many are you?" Jon asked suddenly.

"Us women? Not many. But men are more" even if lately their ranks had thinned. Be a man of the Night's Watch used to be an honor and sometimes brave men decided to leave everything to protect the realm. But those times were far, now the only men send to the Wall were murderers, thieves and rapists… all the scum in the Seven Kingdom had become a member of the Night's Watch.

"Father told me about volunteers" She was sure. Ned Stark's little brother was one of them "There is an age for that?"

"There is an age for that?" She repeated laughing at his words "There's no but one rule. If you are a criminal, you are part of the Night's Watch."

"My uncle is no criminal." Of that she was aware.

"Benjen is no like the others" Cassie said and with a last move she disarmed Jon "Good men are dead Jon Snow" then she tossed his stick back and he caught it "You got skills."

Cassie saw Jon's lid turn up in a little smile, but she could tell something was off. Maybe he was hungry, he always had a strange expression when he was hungry.

"Cassie!" She was shocked when she heard Joff voice. And her blue eyes glared like fire as his brother made his way towards them.

"'Cassie', sister?" He laughed.

He was mocking her.

"Do not call me that" she almost growled, trying to keep her anger under control. She could feel Jon's eyes on her, but she had other things to think about as her brother kept laughing.

"You think it too!" He said "A stupid name, not fit for a princess."

"I've never cared about your thought" she shouted making Joffrey stop laughing with an irritated gasp.

"I'm your prince."

"Should that change anything?" Cassie asked before taking a breath ""What is it that you want this time?"

"Mother will be furious when I'll tell her that you were fighting" then he looked down at her hands "And without your gloves" Cassie ignore that, but when she saw how Joffrey was looking at Jon, she knew what he was thinking. Everyone thought the same thing when they saw Jon; his name was Snow. He was well aware of that, and Cassie would not have Joffrey mock him on that.

"Hold this" she said tossing her stick to Jon who catch it with his free hand and with a dark smirk she took Joff by the shoulder with a firm grip. Her brother looked at her with fear, she had never touched him without her mother being close, or without gloves.

"You really think I won't kick you in your royal ass just because Mother will be mad, boy?" She whispered so low that probably, Jon couldn't even hear her.

"You cannot touch me!" He exclaimed trying to hide his fear. Useless attempt.

"But I am and I am still alive" she said smirking "So be a nice little brother and tell me why you came all this way" she let Joff get free from her catch and angry he spoke again.

"You better start to get ready for the feast for tonight, or you'll have two reasons to be scared of Mother."

She closed her eyes, she had totally forgotten about that. Cassie never liked feasts, but honestly if Ned and Cat had organized it, she wouldn't have miss it.

"Why thank you, Joff" she said in a loud voice then Cassie turned to Sandor who was close behind them "Sandor, take him away, please. The winds of the North are too cold for our little King" then she looked at his brother with a smirk "We don't want him to catch a cold." Sandor bowed his head, sometimes he did that to hide a little smirk. On Joff'sf face she could see the hate; it was always there every single time they spoke. Cassie had lived just one year in peace. The year before little Joffrey's birth. What a beautiful and peaceful year, or at least she believed it was… She couldn't remember any of it.

Joff left, after a poor threat, she was sure, but Cassie was so used to those that she didn't even listened to him anymore and in that moment, she was too busy to think about the feast, that she didn't have time to listened to him.

"The Gods keep mocking me!" She exclaimed turning to Jon. The boy though was glancing at her with a strange look, but Cassie shook her head.

"I completely forgot about the feast" she didn't have anything to wear, she hadn't brought unnecessary things.

"You do not have a dress, I'm guessing" Jon said with an amused smile.

"Do not start" She answered resisting the need to bit her nail "Listen I have to go, but I will see you for the cortege."

She started to walk away when she heard Jon say "I won't be there."

"What?" Cassie asked walking closer to Jon again "Why?" Her friend had a sad smile on his face, it was obvious that he cared about that decision.

"Father said that it's the better decision" she knew what he implied by that "I won't enter with you in the cortege and I'll sit at the end of the hall."

She knew it could not have been Ned's decision. She was sure who could have been behind it.

"I can talk to Catelyn" Cassie had noticed the coldness in Lady Catelyn's eyes looking at Jon, he was the proof of Ned's betrayal during the war after all, but at least she let him stay in the castle. Cassie knew her father had many bastards, but she knew the name of just one; Mya Stone. Cassandra never met her, she knew her half sister lived in the Eyrie, but nothing more and she knew that her mother threatened to kill Mya Stone, if she had ever shown her face in King's Landing.

Cassie was sure she would have been able to convince the lady to let Jon spend the night with them. She needed Jon beside her, she hated parties and she needed her best friend to be with her.

"No, there is no need."

"But Jon" she argued "I'm sure I can-"

He put his hand on her shoulder "I appreciate it Cassie, but do not worry. I much rather be at the end of the hall, so I could bring Ghost with me."

Cassie was no sure he was really feeling alright by that decision, but she didn't push him any further. She didn't want to intrude.

She was sad though. Cassie had already thought how they could have had fun together between drinking two cups of wine and make fun of Theon Greyjoy. Now that evening would have been endless. Even the Stark children would have been busy making company to her little brothers.

"Then I shall sit with you during the dancing." he looked at her with wide eyes, like she had just cursed.

"But your family" she frowned not understanding his words "I'm sure they want for you to spend the evening with them" Cassie let a small laugh escape her lips.

"I assure you they will not mind" his lips curved in a small smile and in his eyes, there was gratitude, but she punched his shoulder to make him stop looking at her like that, and both of them started to laugh.

"It's time for me to go" she said turning around leaving Jon and his little pup in the Goodswood. She decided to go to the only girl she knew she had dresses her size and who was happy to help: Sansa Stark.

Cassie was near the entrance of the hallfast when she heard Arya Stark calling for her. The little girl was running towards her with another pup on her heels, though this one had light grey fur.

"Little Stark" she greeted with a smile. For that little wild thing she had always had a soft spot, maybe because she saw a bit of herself in Arya, the most rebellious among the Starks.

"Want to go horse riding?" Arya asked with a wide smile.

"I wish I could" Cassie said massing her own long dark hair and the little girl punted "Is not Antea going with you?"

Usually, the older Stark loved horse riding. But Arya shook her head "She is helping Robb" then she pointed in the direction of her older siblings not far from them "He have to dance with your sister at the feast".

Now Cassie understood why the two twins were dancing a laughing together. She observed them, Cassie had always observed the Stark brothers. They were so close and nice to each other that they seemed fake sometimes. They didn't insult one another and there wasn't a day they spent apart. She didn't understand that fully sometimes, why they feel the need to be together, Cassandra had never felt that need with any of her siblings, but looking at the two twins in front of her she couldn't help but think that maybe if she had had a twin, she would have felt that kind of bond with him, or she.

"Nymeria, stop that" Cassie looked down and saw Arya's pup with her black cape in its mouth. Again, she thought looking at the direwolf.

"What is it with these puppies and my cape?" Cassie asked more to herself than Arya. "So, you've met Ghost" the girl giggled "Don't worry you'll get used to them" the little Stark looked down at the pup "She is mine, Nymeria" Cassie wasn't surprised she knew how much her friend loved the story of princess Nymeria of Dorne, the one who didn't bow her head to the Targaryens.

"Grey Wind and Shadow, Robb's and Antea's" Arya pointed at two puppies, one dark grey and the other black, which were playing together like their owners "Sansa's is Lady" of that Cassie was even less surprised "Rickon's is called Shaggydog" Cassie frowned, she wanted to meet this one "And Bran had no idea on how calling his" maybe Sweet could have been good, but thinking it through probably that would have been the perfect name to Bran.

After her little chat with Arya, she went to Sansa and the girl had been very happy to help her to get ready. She chose for her a white and golden dress and she started to brush Cassie's hair. The princess was feeling uneasy, no one had made her hair in ages, it was strange to spend so much time to get ready.

"You are beautiful" Sansa exclaimed "I hope it's enough for a princess" Cassie had never seen the girl so enthusiastic.

"I cannot tell" Cassie answered looking at herself in the mirror "But it's surely enough for me, that girl doesn't even resemble me" she liked the girl who she saw in there, maybe she should have started to think a bit more about her appearance, but her life didn't let her to do so.

She then turned to Sansa "You are really good at this, thank you" and Sansa smiled widely.

"Cyel is teaching me, I'm glad you like it."

Then Cassie got up "If you were my sister, I would use you for this"

Sansa's laugh sounded like a song "I would love to be your sister" Cassie looked at her surprised by her words, but it was nice to hear them.

The two girls arrived together at the cortege. Everyone was there, all the Starks and all Cassie's family, who looked at her with wide eyes, even her mother was looking at her strangely, there was something in her eyes but Cassie couldn't give a name to that, but it wasn't pride, that was for sure.

"Look at you!" Robb said with a laugh as he walked closer "I could barely recognize you."

"I thought you were supposed to wear your black vest" Theon said as the little Sand glared at him.

"Indeed" Robb said turning again towards Cassie.

"I've made a promise tonight" she said as she noticed her father look in her direction.

"I fine sight" Cassie turned when she heard Benjen Stark's voice and her smile widened.

"Ben" she said walking to him, trying to keep her gown away from her feet "I didn't know you would come" she said as the man laughed.

"By my brother's invitation" he said looking towards Ned "It was a pleasant surprise as well." Cassie smiled, before noticing her sister looking at her with wide eyes and a sweet smile. At that gaze Cassie felt like looking away a bit embarrassed. Why was she looking at her like that?

When the feast started the first to make their enter had been the lords of Winterfell accompanying the King and the Queen. Then Robb and Myrcella followed, Cassie saw her sister red cheeks while she was entering the hall. Then had been Joff and Sansa's turn and Cassandra couldn't understand the girl happiness during her walk with the future King, who would have been happy to walk with him? Arya and Tommen followed them and Cassie almost smiled looking at her little brother, he was a funny little thing, she had always thought that. Then arrived her turn. She entered alone, she was the eldest but she was a Keeper of Light, it usually was an honor to a Keeper's family. After Antea and her little brothers made their entrance, followed by Cassie's uncles, the first shining like a lion, the other shorter but with the same attitude. The last had been the two wards of the North and Benjen Stark, lord Ned's little brother and one of Cassie's closest friends at the Wall. In fact, Benjen was a brother of the Night's Watch and even First Ranger so he and Cassie spent a lot of time together.

Before they all started to eat Ned gave a speech in honor of the royal family, Cassie didn't listen to it, she knew they didn't deserve the majority of the nice things the Lord of the North was saying, so she focused on finding Jon in the crowd, but there were so many people that she couldn't find him with her gaze.

The dinner had been good and pleasant, Cassie talked finally with Robb and with Ned, and she wasn't ashamed to admit that she had missed the lord of Winterfell with his rare smiles and kind words. But something had ruined her perfect Winterfell moment, she had heard her mother and lady Catelyn talking about an arrangement, Joffrey and Sansa's arrangement. Apparently if Ned had accepted to become Hand of the King, Sansa would have married the little worm.

Why?

Why would they want to do such a thing? They had no idea of what would have meant to be his wife, Sansa would have been stuck with him forever and no crown would have made it better. It had been a real shock for Cassie, she didn't want for the Starks to be in King's Landing or mix with her family, they deserved a lot better.

The dancing had started and she saw Robb and her sister at the center of the hall. Robb was smiling down at her and predictably the girl was falling for his charm. Not far from them Antea was dancing twirling Rickon around and Greyjoy was looking at her drooling like usual. Everyone knew the idiot liked the young lady, except said lady. But in her defense, Theon Greyjoy was such a man whore that it was impossible to think that he was serious about her. Cassie didn't think he was anyway.

Dancing and laughing there were the little Sand girl and Bran too, Cassie smiled looking at them, it was nice to see how much fun they had together and she even noticed that lady Catelyn was also looking at them from the table. Arya was running around the hall with little Palla, while Sansa was talking with her friend Jayne Pool. Everyone seemed to have a great time and Cassie decided that it was time for her to look for Jon. As she promised.

She searched for him but it was like he had disappeared.

"Cassie!" The girl turned hearing Benjen's voice, and she saw the man walking towards her.

"Ben!" She exclaimed with a smile. Ben was very important to Cassie, she grew up with him, he taught her a lot at the Wall and he had her full respect. He was smiling at her but there was something strange in his eyes.

"Is everything alright?" Cassie asked a bit concerned, there was something off with him.

"It's just something Jon said" the man said after taking a breath. Her eyes blinked twice, so Jon was in the hall.

"You've seen Jon" it wasn't a question and she was talking more to herself, then she looked at her friend "What did he say?"

Benjen put his hands on his hips before speaking "He wants to become a brother of the Night's Watch".

Cassie eyes widened. He wouldn't. He couldn't."Have you told him to stop being an idiot?" She exclaimed.

"I've tried to dissuade him, if this is what you're asking" He said "He didn't want to listen to me."

He couldn't.

Ben took another breath "He wants for me to talk to his father"

Cassie shook her head looking at her feet. How could he even think about it. Why? What was going on in that idiot's mind?

"I'm sure he was just angry" at his words Cassie looked up.

Jon was angry, she knew. She thought she knew why he was angry. Stupid idiot, if he had let her talk to the lady now, he would be at the table drinking and laughing.

"Where is he?" Cassie asked to her friend.

"Cassie."

"Ben" she said "Where is he?"

The man took a breath.

"He went out." Cassandra didn't wait another secon and immediately exited the main hall, ignoring Ben's voice calling her name.

If Jon was drunk and upset, she would have brought some sense back in that hard head of his.

The Wall. Why would he thought about the Wall?

Usually when Jon Snow was angry, he walked in the gardens of the castle, if she was lucky in an hour, she would have found him and maybe he would have been more reasonable. It hadn't passed a lot of time when she heard Jon's voice, she was coming out the shadow when she heard her uncle Tyrion's voice.

"All dwarfs are bastards in their fathers' eyes" Cassie's back was against the warm wall of Winterfell and she listened closer. Like she had imagined Jon was upset becuse of his last name and she wasn't happy he had met her uncle "Remeber. All dwarfs may be bastards, yet not all bastards need to be dwarfs".

Cassie's blue eyes shown all the anger she was feeling in that moment.

"What have you told him?" she said once he walked pass her.

"Cassandra" the man turned looking up at the girl with surprise eyes

"What have you told him?" She repeated with an hiss. But that only made her uncle got curious.

"Is that care what I heard in your voice?" his lips turned in a little smirk "It is extremely unlikely of you" Cassandra ignored his comment.

"If I came to know you've done something-" the princess was saying but her uncle chuckled.

"What have I done?" At his words she shook her head.

"He wants to become a man of the Night's Watch." She exclaimed.

"I see" he said making her glare down at him "This is not your matter though."

She found herself laughing at those words, that man had no idea of what he was talking about "Maybe it's the time for him to think about his own future."

"Future?" She hissed and her uncle nodded his head.

"Of course" he said "That could be his best choice. What future does he have here."

He had no idea. He always thought he knew everything but he had no idea.

Cassie looked his uncle dead in his eyes "Not all fathers are like Tywin Lannister" Ned was nothing like her grandfather, he loved all his sons. He would have done anything for them. All of them.

"You cannot understand what it feels to be like us, dear niece" he said glaring as well "Look at you. You have the name, the beauty, power and respect" he smirked like he had made a point "You have everything" Cassie look at her uncle.

"And you have mind, money and respect, and yet you always talk like your name isn't Lannister" he looked at her with his different colored eyes, he didn't like her answer, but he didn't have the time to say anything back because she walked away from him. No one knew what the Wall was like, they couldn't judge and her uncle couldn't compare someone like Tywin Lannister to a good man like Ned.

Future. What future was he talking about?

She stalked towards Jon that was caressing his direwolf. Her steps made noise in the night, even if if was possible to hear music and laughters from the inside of the castle. When he noticed her presence, Jon turned fully towards her.

"I've met your uncle".

"Yes, you'll get over it" at her words he frowned not understanding, but she didn't care.

"Are you serious about taking the Black?" at his silence she glared at him with her deep blue eyes.

"You're a fool" she spatted and Jon widened his eyes.

"What?"

"You heard me!"

He wasn't pleased with her words, but she wasn't pleased with his either.

"Why shouldn't I?" He argued.

"Because you have a life here" she was starting to get angry.

"Do I?" He fired back.

"Of course!"

"I do not think it in that way" he was turning to leave, but she grabbed him by his vest to, twisting him so that he was looking at her.

"Do you have any idea of what it means to become one of them?"

Jon rolled his eyes "Yes, Cassie. Thak you."

"Oh, do you?!" She argued nearly yelling.

"It means I will have a chance" he answered "A future" Cassie looked at him for a moment before letting go of his vest.

"You are not that stupid, Jon Snow, to give up all your life just because you are a bastard" she spoke softly, almost whispering. She hoped to talk sense back in to him, but the boy step away from her.

"You have no idea, Cassie!" Jon exclaimed "You have no idea of what it feels to be like me."

"Yeah" she said "You are leaving an awful life behind you, sorry Jon, how insensitive of me" he shook his head and she almost laugh angrily at his attitude.

"This has nothing to do with you" Jon exclaimed "I'm fifteen, I'm almost a man and this is my choice!"

Cassie looked at him in the eyes. He was stupid. He was a fool. He had no idea of what he was heading to.

"I don't have any idea of how it feels to be like you" Cassie said and her eyes became cold as she got closer again, but this time he didn't step back glaring back at her.

"You want to end your days alone in the cold? Do it" her voice was almost venomous, she had never talk to him like that, and she had never thought she would have ever done it. Then she turned her back at Jon and started to walk towards the entrance again "I don't give a shit about you anyway".

Cassandra didn't turn to look at him, she walked straight in the castle.

Damn Jon Snow.

He was a stupid. He was a fool. He was making a choice without know it what he was getting himself into.

He had no idea of what it meant to be at the Wall, nobody had it.