Chapter 7: Walk With Me

"I don't know why you complained so about being betrothed, sister, it's not bad at all."

Cassana glared at her little brother with open annoyance, but otherwise refused to rise to the bait of his comment. She gestured for the servant behind her to pour her a cup of steaming tea, not the dark bitter tea the Northerners drank, but a fragrant fruit tea she had bought with her. It was something from the Summer Isles, she didn't know what, or how expensive it was, she just knew that it tasted pleasant and that was enough for her.

She and Joffrey sat alone in the small dining hall which had been allocated to the royal family. Their mother and father would doubtless not be up for hours, they both drank rather a lot at feasts. Their father to make himself all the louder, their mother in an effort to drown him out. Myrcella and Tommen were still asleep, having been up far past their normal bedtime last night, Cassana wished that her other younger siblings were up to keep her company.

That or she wished she still slumbered as they did, but she had reason to be awake at this hour. She had promised Robb that he could take her on a tour today, and she was to meet him within the half hour. She had taken some pains with her appearance, enough to show her beauty, but not so much as to look like she was blatantly trying to look good for him.

Her long blonde hair fell mostly loose down her back, she had on only simply golden chains for jewellery, and one of her new gowns designed to be worn in the cooler Northern temperatures. She fiddled absently with the chain around her neck, it was now two days till the wedding, two days she had to get to know the man she'd spend the rest of her life with. In those two days she would learn what the future years would bring, and be able to gauge how happy they would make her.

Looking around the cold stone walls, her initial guess was not that much. But, happiness was not always part of the deal with marriages. She knew this, she accepted it, but that didn't mean she was going to let it pass without showing her dislike just a little. Privately, of course. It would be a secret kept to herself. For as much as she wished she could get by without, there was power in marriage, she just had to figure out how to use it…

"Sansa seems pleased with the idea of being married, from what I hear," Joffrey went on, "In fact, don't most girls dream of their weddings? But not you, sister, you've never told me why."

"Perhaps because it doesn't concern you," she replied; reaching out to take a pastry for her plate.

"I'm curious, I command you to tell me," he said haughtily.

She bit into the pastry, happy to discover it was filled with sweet berries and still warm. She chewed it contentedly, and also took the time to sip more tea before she replied to him.

"You can't command me to do that, you're not King yet, Joffrey. And I'm still your elder sister."

"I am the Crown Prince!" he exclaimed, "You are just a Princess, even Tommen is ahead of you in line to the throne, and therefore in power!"

Cassana smiled as she drank some more tea, this had forever been a sore point for Joffrey. He felt that as Crown Prince, and their mother's favourite, he had the right of command over all of his siblings for everything. He hated being reminded that he couldn't order such trivial things of his brother and sisters.

Of course, it was a sore point for her too. When they had been small, her being elder than Joffrey had used to matter. Her little brother used to do what she said, and she had liked it that way. Then he had grown, and become aware of his position in life, and how it was above hers. They hadn't been able to stand each other since.

The worst incident had occurred when she was nine and he was six. Cassana absently reached up a hand to touch a point on her back, just below her shoulder, where a small scar served as a permanent reminder of that incident. Since that day, Cassana had hated Joffrey, and he had resented her.

"Well, when you marry Robb, you won't be a Princess anymore," he said smugly, "I can order you around then."

"Well thank the Gods that you will be many miles from me," she snapped back, "That's at least one good thing about this wretched match."

"I should invite you and your husband down to King's Landing when I am King," he smirked. "You can wait on Sansa when she is Queen."

The berries in her pastry soured in her mouth, and her appetite vanished. She hated that he had found this weakness, and the gleam in his eye told her that he knew.

She put down her small breakfast, delicately wiped her hands on a napkin, and pushed her chair back from the table. She'd had enough of her brother's company for the day. He made no comment as she turned around and walked out of the room, he knew he had won that round. She heard his chuckle echoing off the walls around her, and she slammed the heavy wooden doors behind her in an effort to silence it.

"Cassana!"

Tommen's cheerful voice called out to her as she walked back towards her rooms, he was coming down the corridor towards her, bouncing with excitement for reasons she couldn't imagine. What did he find to be so cheerful about in these dreary halls? But, that was Tommen, he'd always find something to smile for no matter where he was. It was one of the things she really loved about her youngest.

"Morning, Tommen," she patted his head as he raced up to hug her, "Did you sleep well?"

He nodded vigorously, "Where are you going? Did you have breakfast already? Are mother and Myrcella awake yet?"

"I did," she replied, "And no, only Joffrey is in there at the moment."

Tommen made a face, his older brother could be particularly cruel to Tommen. He thought that his younger sibling was too soft, and made frequent attempts to torment Tommen at any given opportunity.

"What about Uncle Jaime or Uncle Tyrion?" he asked, "Uncle Tyrion is always funny."

Now it was Cassana's turn to make a face, she didn't know what Tommen and Myrcella found so amusing about their Imp Uncle. Cassana found Tyrion to be rude, crude, thoroughly inappropriate at all times. For such a small man, he made a rather large stain on the Lannister family reputation.

"I wish you didn't encourage Uncle Tyrion to act like he does, he's a bad influence on you."

"Me? A bad influence? No, surely you must be thinking of my brother."

Cassana whirled around, and looked down, to find her Uncle Tyrion leaning casually against the wall a few paces behind her. She hadn't heard him approach, and she hated being taken by surprise like that.

"You shouldn't sneak up like that!" she accused.

"You should pay more attention to your surroundings," he retorted, "Here in the North there really are some beautiful surroundings to pay attention to. Did you know-"

"I don't have time for one of your little history lessons, Uncle."

"Know what?" Tommen piped up.

Cassana cursed the good natures of her youngest siblings which led them to be taken in by Tyrion's silly ways. No matter what Cassana or their mother said, they continued to be amused by the antics of the half-sized relative.

Tyrion grinned and put an arm around his nephew, "Come, let us have breakfast and I'll tell you."

Tommen eagerly followed Tyrion into the dining room, and Cassana found herself wishing Joffrey's ill company on the both of them. She kept on her way, not wanting to watch the two of them stroll off amiably down the halls.

/*0*/

"Five dragons says she doesn't show up."

"You shouldn't bet on her like that."

"What? You too scared you'd lose if you took me on?"

"No."

"Five dragons it is."

Robb Stark shook his head, he was pacing just a little nervously in the courtyard as he waited for Cassana to show up. Behind him, Theon was making a bet with Jon as to whether she actually would, Robb wasn't sure if he was offended or not. Still, at least his brother took his side.

She was a few minutes late, but that was no reason to assume she wouldn't be there. After all, it was highly unlike a Princess to stand up her own fiancée while they were supposed to be getting to know each other. At least, Robb hoped it was unlikely. Perhaps Cassana wasn't as keen to get to know him as he was to get to know her. She had certainly made no effort to seek him out at the feast last night, she hadn't even left her place except to leave the feast hall altogether.

Should he have gone up to her that night? Theon had urged him to, but he had been so unsure. She had just looked so… unapproachable. She'd barely looked at him the whole evening, spending most of the night with a cool gaze into the distance, as if nothing in the hall was worth noticing anyway. Well, maybe he was exaggerating, he hoped that he was. Gods, she almost intimidated him with that attitude.

And she had refused his gift… was that a bad sign? Then again, she hadn't known it was from him, so really it was a good sign of loyalty that she was refusing strange gifts. He really should stop being nervous, he hadn't been yesterday, he'd been quite confidant actually. He just needed to maintain that same confidence. It wasn't as if he needed to court her really, they were already engaged, but he did want to know her.

He crouched down to scratch Grey Wind between the ears. The direwolf pup was growing fast, and followed him almost everywhere, but most of the time it was Robb following him. Grey Wind loved to race on ahead all the time. Speaking of which, Grey Wind darted away from him seconds after playfully nuzzling his hand. Robb looked up to see what had caught the pup's attention, it was Cassana.

He bowed low, as did everyone else, when she entered the courtyard. Another young woman trailed behind her, and Robb realised that she had been waiting in the shadows for Cassana to show, this must be her escort.

Grey Wind had raced up to the Princess, and was playfully yipping and running in circles around her ankles. She didn't look as haughty as she had the other times he had seen her, in fact, she looked a little nervous.

"Grey Wind! Here!" Robb called out.

The pup obediently came to him, and Cassana's expression showed brief relief, before assuming the same mask she had shown during the feast. Ahh, he had learned something. He now knew that he should call it a mask, for that was all it was. It was a start.

Behind him he heard the soft clink of coins being passed from Theon to Jon, along with a muttered curse. He hoped that Cassana didn't notice, but when her gaze flickered over his shoulder for a moment, causing a slight tightening of her mouth, he knew that she had.

"Princess Cassana." He stepped forward and raised her hand to his lips. She was wearing gloves today, and as his lips caressed the soft leather for a mere second, he wished that she wasn't. "I'm glad you came."

"This is my lady-in-waiting, Lady Corrina Brax, she will be accompanying us as my chaperone," Cassana introduced.

"Lady Corrina," he gave her a bow, slightly shallower than the one he had given Cassana.

"Are you bringing chaperones too?" Cassana inquired, gesturing to Jon and Theon, who still stood behind him, trying to look absorbed in conversation as they eavesdropped.

He laughed, a surprisingly rich laugh, "No, they were just…curious."

"Curious?" she repeated, arching one eyebrow delicately.

"Of you, they've had little exposure to fine ladies such as yourself, Princess. And they're jealous that I have such a beautiful fiancée and they don't," he added with a grin.

He had hoped to make her laugh, but she only smiled at the compliment. He gave an internal sigh, he suspected this was going to be difficult.

"Princess, shall we?" he offered her his arm.

She made a small gesture to her lady, to stand several paces behind them, and took his arm. As it had been at the feast, her touch was light as a feather, he could barely feel her hand there. As a way to reassure himself that she was indeed on his arm, he rested his other hand on top of hers as they walked.

"Where are we walking to?" she inquired.

"Well, I want to show you the godswood, it's my favourite place in the castle, I hope you like it," he said, "Then I thought perhaps I could show you some of the Winter Town?"

"Not the castle itself?"

He laughed, "Trust me, you will have ample time to explore the halls of Winterfell, I thought it would be better to take advantage of the nice day to see other things."

Cassana cast a quick glance up at the clouded sky, frowning slightly. Ahh, no doubt for her this wasn't a 'nice' day, she was used to sunny Southern skies. He wished he had sunlight to bathe her in, her hair would light up in it he was sure.

"Is…is your pup coming with us?" she asked casting that wary glance down at Grey Wind, who was pattering eagerly behind at Robb's heel.

"He does like to follow me, but don't worry, he's harmless really," Robb assured.

They walked in silence for some time, Robb was unsure what to say to her. Gods but this was awkward. What did one even say to someone they hardly knew? If it were a man he could talk about fighting or horses, if it was an elder woman he knew how to converse politely about nothing, if it was a little girl he knew how to distract them with sweets and laughter, but a young woman to whom he was betrothed? That was an entirely different and far more difficult matter.

Okay Robb, he thought to himself, just ask her the first thing that comes into your mind.

"Is your favourite colour still purple, Princess?" he inquired.

He mentally winced when she gave him a slightly confused look.

"Purple?"

Unless it's a stupid question like that. Robb, you dumb idiot.

"Uh, only I just remember when we used to write to each other, that's what you mentioned your favourite colour being when I asked."

She made a sound of understanding before replying, "No, it's blue now."

They walked on in silence for a few more moments, Robb was too nervous to ask another question, fearful that it would be as embarrassing as the first one. Eventually, Cassana was the one to break the second silence.

"Why did you ask me?"

"Oh, I was just trying to make conversation," he replied, brushing a hand through his hair nervously, "I didn't want you to feel awkward in the silence, so…"
"No, I meant in the letters, why were you always asking me questions like that?" she inquired.

"I wanted to know more about you," he stated simply. "I was curious, I wanted to ask then so I could prepare for you to come here. Things like how you enjoy berry pastries at breakfast, and whether you preferred sweet or bitter drinks, what you liked to do so I could practice, your favourite colour so I could have things made for you in it."

Cassana gave a small start of surprise when he mentioned the pastries, and Robb felt an inner glow of satisfaction that some of the old facts remained true. He had ordered the pastries added to the breakfast menu for the Baratheons, in an effort to make Cassana feel a little happier perhaps, she had seemed quite disturbed by her father's speech. He was unsure whether he would like her to make the connection and know it was him, or leave it as just something for her to enjoy.

"That's very… thoughtful," she said after a pause, "Thank you."

Robb has hoped for a reaction at least a little stronger than that. Weren't girls normally supposed to swoon into your arms if they found out how 'thoughtful' you were? Hells, perhaps he should have asked Sansa for advice and not his mother, she would be more up to date on what girls of this age would fine swoon-worthy.

Still, he did have one final trick to play on this walk.

"Princess, I have a confession to make." He reached into his cloak and pulled out the little box containing the bracelet. "I was the one who sent you this, I told the boy to keep it secret as I felt it might be a romantic mystery you might enjoy."

"That was you?" she questioned. "I apologise! If I'd known-"

Robb held up a hand to stop her, and the momentary tightening of her expression showed that she was not used to being interrupted like that. But she kept her peace and let him speak.

"In all honesty, it was almost reassuring that you did," he admitted. "Makes me feel like I can trust you. However, I promise to take credit for all gifts I send you from now on."

Cassana took the box from him carefully, surprise mixing with confusion on her face for the quickest of moments, before that cool demeanour was back in place. Ah, how Robb longed to bring that mask down permanently, not just for flashes, he hated not knowing what she was thinking. It made him question too much, and stirred a warning in him that he didn't like. He wanted to trust her, he wanted to like her, but she was making it very hard for him.

"Lord Robb… thank you."

She opened up the lid and twirled the bracelet around her hands several times. Robb watched her very closely, hoping to see a break in her expression. He was rewarded. A small smile appeared as her eyes intently followed the lines of metalwork, she liked it.

"It's beautiful," she said, while placing it back in its box and closing the lid. "But I don't have anything to wear it with, all my clothes are made for gold jewellery."

She made as if to offer it back to him, but he resisted gently, placing his hand over hers and pushing the box back towards her.

"I had it made for you, keep a hold of it, it can wait until the day you find something for silver." He smiled, "And please, call me Robb. We are to be married, are we not?"

"Very well," she said, "Thank you, Robb."

As she passed the box back to her lady-in-waiting to carry for her, Robb had a moment to notice that she had not given him the same leave to dispense with her title. He wondered whether or not that offended him, or made him feel foolish, but he decided not to let it. They were still newly met, he couldn't expect her to suddenly be comfortable around him. Gods, he still wasn't fully comfortable around her. He just had to keep on trying and hope that someday soon, she would start trying too.