A/N:

I think me updating this fast will be a rare, rare thing. But I figured, I'm new to this and my readers deserve more than boring intro chapters, so here's the next part!

Thanks to everyone who has read so far and my reviewers: i-need-shine, LiviLottie (I think the Lannisters do tend to stay in there...inner circle, but Cass and Renly don't really get along, forcing her to "befriend" some other people in the Red Keep. Or at least get along with), Hendrickx E, and HermioneandMarcus. I absolutely love hearing what you guys think of my writing, especially since this is my first Game of Thrones fic (something I'm so utterly nervous about).
Thanks again!

Disclaimer: I am not George RR Martin. Otherwise I'd be writing real things so that my fanbase doesn't attack me.

Sansa was the first of the Stark children she spoke to-well, unless she had spoken to Robb 15 years ago, but that surely didn't count. The red headed girl came to her room, the perfect lady, and asked if she were okay, if she needed anything, if she were too tired to eat with them that night.

"Gods no," Cass practically laughed. "I doubt there's a time I am ever not hungry. I must be careful though or I'll turn out like Robert."

Sansa gave an awkward grin, unsure whether to laugh or not. Cass did for her and said, "It is funny. Just because he's the king doesn't mean you aren't allowed to think he's fat."

She seemed to relax after that. "I see you changed."

Cass did. She assumed a dress was a little more appropriate for her standing. She picked a blue one too. Everything here seemed blue. "I don't prefer to smell like horse, do you?"

"I don't like riding that much. Arya does, but I could do without."

"The riding part is fine." Cass moved towards the door. "It's the after I don't like. Am I allowed to leave my room, Lady Sansa? Or does my brother wish for you to guard me in here?"

"No, no!"

Cass supposed she should be nicer. This Sansa did not seem to get her jokes. "Very well then. I am on my way to get lost in Winterfell. This seems like fun."

"I can direct you, Lady Cassana, if you wish. I only need to tell my Septa that..."

"Really, Sansa, I will be fine. A promising lady like you should not miss her lessons." Cass didn't mind exploring on her own. She wasn't being sarcastic when she said it was fun.

She followed Sansa down a couple of stairs until the girl turned to another tower to commence her work with her teacher. Cass found herself back into the main parts of the keep. Servants were busying themselves, running amuck most likely because the King was there. She passed the kitchens and smelled a stew of mushrooms and beef and heavy broth, and she felt and heard her stomach react.

"You're the sister, aren't you? The Lady Baratheon."

She flinched and turned around. He had dark hair, standing out against his pale face and neck. He might be handsome, Cass thought, if not for the smirk on his face. But she was used to men with too much confidence, and she instead tried to figure out who this boy was. He had been outside too, next to the Stark looking boy that wasn't called a Stark. His clothes were too fine to be a servant, unlike the other boy, he did not seem Stark at all. A ward then maybe. "You have me at a disadvantage. I do not know your position or house."

"My position is anything that suits your needs." He grinned again. "And my house is one of the oldest houses in Westeros."

Her mind turned, ignoring the innuendo. "A Greyjoy then. I see." She remembered now hearing about when Balon Greyjoy rebelled. That was after she left and came to King's Landing. Balon's only living son was sent to the Starks for...safe keeping. "I am sorry but I forget the first name."

His smirk fell. "Theon."

"Ah, it is nice to meet you, Theon. Cassana Baratheon, but you already knew that." Cass grinned. "Are you hungry as well?"

He looked towards the kitchen and shook his head. "No, I was just heading out back to the grounds. I thought you would like to come watch me."

And why would I want to do that? She looked at Theon again and saw his cockiness, the look that was familiar with wooers and suitors at court. He would try to bed her, she saw that now. And of course, he would be unsuccessful. But he didn't need to know that yet. "Yes, I would like that. But I fear I need something to eat first."

Theon turned to the kitchen again. "I will be right back."

She was walking to the training grounds, bread and cheese in hand, when she noticed two other boys of similar age, helmets on their heads, sparring in a dirt ring. To her surprise, Theon did not join them-nor even acknowledge them. He simply walked passed them to the archery range and found a bow. "Not a swordsman?" Cass asked between bites.

He shook his head and took two arrows. The first hit the bulls eye, and Cass would have been impressed if she hadn't seen it coming. The second, however, stunned her. Theon aimed the arrow and shot it straight through the first one, breaking the shaft clear in half.

"Jory tells you not to do that, Theon."

It was one of the boy's from before, but Cass' eyes were still trained to the arrow.

Theon made a low noise towards her. "It happens quite often you see."

"Jon, I think Theon's trying to impress her."

She turned at that, not wanting to be impressed even though she was. Cass curtsied when she saw the other boy across from her, his helmet now off. "Hello." She looked to the other boy next to him. His hair was black and his eyes grey. He really was very Stark looking, but that didn't make sense. "I'm afraid we have failed to meet each other yet." She approached him directly. 'I'm Cassana Baratheon."

"Jon." He said. He seemed confused at the acknowledgement, placing his sword towards the ground and looking to the boy to his side, uneasy.

"Jon...?"

"He's my half-brother, Lady Cassana." And that was all she needed to hear. He was Ned Stark's bastard, and she remembered Robert talking about it once or twice a decade before. Ned had brought another baby home from war, but Cass hadn't seen him. Robert's laughter went through her head,"She must have been one hell of a girl to make Ned Stark forget his honor". She hid the surprise from her face and looked next to Jon St-no it isn't Storm here- Jon Snow. His blue eyes caught her in the completely wrong way, looking as if she were intruding. "And we have yet to meet either, not really. I'm Robb Stark."

She smiled. "I know. You're my apparent best friend."

Robb loosened his grip on his sword and laughed. It was nice, and his eyes seemed to soften a bit. "They tell you that too? Did they also tell you that I don't remember you ever being in Winterfell?"

"Nor do I remember coming, but I'm here now." She offered her hand and he stared at it awhile, unsure, and then took it and kissed it lightly. "Apologies." She was blushing. She must have been embarrassed. "I have spent far too long in court."

"And I not enough, obviously. I have never left the North." Robb kept holding her hand, and after a cough from his half-brother Jon, he finally let it go. "You have thick gloves on, Lady Cassana."

"Rabbit, not wolf. I thought that would be appropriate. And gods know it's cold up here."

Theon grimaced. "I'm sure Grey Wind appreciates that."

Cass looked over to Theon and then back to Robb, "Who's Grey Wind?"

"He's perfectly harmless."

She didn't believe him. Grey Wind was a wolf- a big wolf. A direwolf, and she didn't know how to react around him. He was with his brother Ghost, which coincidentally or not was Jon's wolf. Robb leaned on the trunk of a tree. She was uncomfortable enough in the godswood without these things. "I think he likes you."

Cass stared at him. Grey Wind stared back. "I am not sure how you got that impression."

Theon answered her, "He's not attacking you for one thing."

"Oh." Cass backed away from one of the trees. She knew what it was though she wasn't a believer in the Old Gods. The eyes seemed to be bleeding, crying with sap. Its face frightened her. "Good."

She edged closer to the big wolf, who was just lying down in the wood. His eyes perked up as she approached, and she slowly placed her hand on his head. "He's soft." She found herself shoulder to shoulder with Robb Stark, and Cass shot up, removing her hand. "I am sorry. I didn't mean..."

He looked as if he wanted to laugh at her again. "Why are you apologizing? Grey Wind doesn't mind being petted, just like any other." Robb looked behind him. "Right, Theon?"

"Shut up, Robb." He seemed to think over this thought for a time. "But you're right. I suddenly remember I have an appointment. Goodbye, Lady Cassana."

"Bye, Theon." She waved him off, eyes never retracting from the big beast in front of her. It was uncomfortable here and so cold, but looking at Robb and Jon, one would think they were at home by the fire. They seem so at ease. Cass remembered the trees behind her. "Southerners don't belong here."

"King's Landing is not too south." Jon offered.

"Though I am not originally from King's Landing." Cass finally turned and touched the bark of the tree with blood red tears. The godswood there was not this big or wild. The Heart Tree was a normal tree-an oak- but this one was something completely different. "Why is she so sad?"

Grey Wind and Ghost seemed to face it also before one of them caught sound of some sort of animal and started running off. The sudden action frightened her, and she turned around sharply, hands out.

Robb was laughing now. "What are you doing?"

"They frightened me." Cass fell out of her stance. "That's it."

"It looks as if you were about to knock something in the face."

She shrugged, "Well then I would have been prepared if there were something to knock. But there wasn't. Did either of you bring swords out here?"

The two young men looked at each other and then to their empty belts.

Cass nodded. "Exactly. Some protection you are. The King's sister could be hurt in a place like this."

She had him pinned to the ground, Jaime laughing and tossing his gold hair back. "Rather compromising position, isn't it?"

Cass pulled his arm back more, making him groan in pain. There was not that much force involved, but the angle was making Jaime's face grimace. "I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you."

Jaime Lannister tapped roughly on the stone floor. They were far away, some unused outside porch or something, but whatever it was, it would do for now. It had been hard to find a place the last week or so, but Jaime came to her three days ago with an option. Cass wasn't pleased with the hard surface, but she supposed it would have to do.

She waited until he hit the floor again before she loosened her grip and shot him a satisfied smirk. Jaime flexed his arm she had in a hold. "You'll tear it off one day."

"I doubt I could. And it's not like you're actually trying that hard." Cass brushed the dust off her riding pants. "I'm not sure I ever really thanked you, Jaime." She wasn't sure what brought this on now. Maybe being in a foreign place, away from the Red Keep. Maybe she suddenly realized the world was huge and dangerous and she did not know how to navigate it. Her hands were cracked and bleeding, and she knew her knees would be bruised. Robert wouldn't mind though. He knew what she was doing. He had told her to do it. "When my brother told me to learn to defend myself, I don't think he expected you to volunteer."

Jaime shrugged the sentence off. "I'd lie and say it was my duty as the Kingsguard but you'd know better, wouldn't you?"

That was true. "Then why did you?" She had been young then, only 13, and men were already asking if she had flowered. It was not that Cassana was any exceptional beauty, like Cersei or even Sansa Stark, but she was a King's sister. That was enough to tempt most ambitious men.

"It was either that or watch your brother drink himself into a stupor." Jaime flexed his sword hand. "And you know I like fighting. That's that. Why are you bring so disgustingly sentimental?"

"I don't know," Cass admitted. "I guess I realized a lady can't carry a sword like a man can, and if she did, she'd be asking for attention. I am not as big as a knight or a sellsword." She smiled again. "But I want to thank you for enabling me to protect myself against them."

"Tricks, that's what it is. Some of it is art." Jaime moved to the armor of the Kingsguard, and Cass went to help her brother-in-law reattach his cloak. "Swordplay is the real art, Cass. If I could teach you that..."

"I'm horrid and you know it. Do not bring it up again."

He had tried once to teach her the sword, but Cass managed to cut her arms up more than she could touch Jaime. Jaime tried to persuade her to try with wooden ones, but she refused. He cracked a smile. "Are you forbidding it?"

"Yes." Her eyes narrowed. "Do I have that sort of power to forbid you from saying something?"

"No. I don't think anyone does really." Jaime flexed a bit in his armor. "Why are you not with the Starks?"

Cass blinked, "Doing what exactly? They have their own things to occupy their time with. I, fortunately, have left my Septa years ago."

"That one boy is of age. You can be with him."

She sniffed at Jaime's comment. The Lannister's were not known for subtlety. "And do what?"

"Talk. Fuck. Hells if I know. I just do not think your brother wants you out here with me all day and not bonding with his beloved Starks."

Cass shrugged. "I suspect my brother will be satisfied enough with the union of his son and their daughter to care about my habits in Winterfell. Jaime..."

He was smiling then, and she had the feeling that she should ask him what it was about. But Cass stopped as she heard another pair of feet approach their fighting spot. She stiffened, and only exhaled a little when Cersei appeared around the bend, unaccompanied. "Brother, may I speak with you?"

The queen shot Cass a serious look, and Cass curtsied in her imaginary dress before tearing out of there. She did not like hanging out with any combination of the Lannister siblings. She had half the mind to search for Tyrion, knowing full well that he would not be with the twins, but the clashing of swords behind the barn drew her away from that idea immediately. It was the bastard, Cass realized, hitting a dummy harshly with a long sword. Cass smiled at his deftness with the blade, but the look soon faded when Jon Snow turned to face her. "Lady Cassana." He bowed. Snow did know his manners. The blade immediately dropped from his hand, clamoring against the stones and causing Jon to fall to the ground. "My apologies. I must look like..."

"You look like a hard worker." Cass eyed his dire wolf sitting silently beside him. Ghost stared at her with red, deep eyes. Like embers. Like fire in the icy snow. "Please do not stop training at my account. I will move on."

"Wait."

She hadn't suspected that. Cass turned around, facing his grey eyes as Jon Snow came closer and closer to her. His leather clad hands strayed to her neck, and Cass flinched back before he remembered himself. "I'm sorry. I should know better, really. It's...are you hurt, my lady?"

"Hurt?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I misunderstand."

"Your neck is bruised."

Her own hands strayed to that location and felt the tenderness of a big bruise above her collar bone. Cass waved it off. "It is my belief that women have just enough reason to defend themselves as men. I was also training."

"With a sword?" He didn't seem to mock her. He seemed generally confused. But his confusion turned into a smile as he found his own piece of metal within the straw. "My lady, you remind me of my youngest sister. She would be envious to know of your training."

"It is not with a sword that I train with, Jon Snow. A sword is impractical for a lady in court." She smiled larger at his confusion. "I train with my body, not a thin piece of metal. And I would prefer if you did not advertise this to the rest of your family. It...is not expected from me."

Jon smiled. "Well isn't that a good thing then?"

She didn't know what to say to that, to this boy who she caught off guard, but right now was catching her even more by surprise. Cass watched as he carved the sword through the air, slice after slice, and she wondered what possible future a bastard like him could have. He'd be a good knight. It was obvious to her he was a fighter. But he would never find a day in court. It was a shame, really. Cass found herself frowning before moving away.

She must have been distracted or confused by Winterfell for she did not notice Robb Stark or his heavy footed pace until she was crashing into it. Cass fell back, right on her butt, and touched her head where they had collided. There was a jostle of metal and awkward fumblings before she felt a hand encircle her own and drag her body off the stone. "Gods, I'm clumsy." Robb Stark didn't speak like an heir to a lord, and she liked that. His blue eyes met her instantly. "...Lady Cassana..." He swallowed. "I'm sorry."

"Both of our faults, I'm sure." She wiped away imaginary dust from her clothes and immediately felt self-conscious that she wasn't wearing a dress. "It seems that you are running from something, Lord Stark."

"Lord Stark is my father." Robb scratched his auburn hair. "But yes. I suppose you're right."

"And Lady Cassana is my mother." She flashed him a smile. He looked red in the cheeks and Cass continued., "May I inquire who?" Cass turned to him, eyes lifting. "You were running from of course."

"Who?" I mean, it's not really who but more what they were doing."

"It'll be hard for you to run then." She was about to walk away, but then realized she did not know where else to go. "Forgive me for asking, Robb, but what does one do in Winterfell? I have been here for a week or so and I am still at a loss."

"Unsurprising." Robb laughed. "Not much. I think your brother wishes to have a party tonight."

That was like Robert. "I suppose they're hunting for boar then."

"Not likely here. The wolves keep them away." Robb started walking, pausing when Cass didn't follow. She then walked forward to him, keeping her distance from the heir to Winterfell who only began to move again when she caught up. ""Is the Red Keep interesting?"

"No." Cass blushed. "I mean, it can be. I like court, actually."

"You get to stand and look pretty?"

"No, I don't. I-I don't think looking pretty is a source of entertainment." She paused. "Though the process is quite amusing."

"That explains Sansa quite a bit then." They continued to walk around the grey keep, their distance large but not enough that Cass could not feel the heat from his body. She rubbed her hands together, that part of her feeling suddenly cold so up north. They walked under archways in silence, eyes on the floor or ahead and never on each other. There was something about looking at each other that she did not wish to risk.

A few feet ahead, Cass stopped at a bed of dying flowers. Her hands brushed against some of the petals—memory returning. "...Where are we?"

"Just a garden." Robb stopped next to her. "What are you thinking of?"

"That I remember this place." She looked back to him, finally, and immediately regretted it. Her stomach twisted in anxiety and Cass felt too warm now for Winterfell. "We don't have flowers like these in King's Landing or Storm's End."

"Storm's End. I'd like to go there."

That took her by surprise. She'd expect Robb to say something about the capital if anything. "Why?"

"Sounds powerful. Your other brother did a good job during the war to maintain it."

She remembered learning about that with her Septa and the maesters. She felt bad for Stannis—bad for her people. "Their victory was hard earned." She'd like to go back there too. Though she would never be Lady of Storm's End. It was then she remembered that the Starks were one of the great houses in Westeros. That Robb was of her age, not betrothed, and...and.. "I think I'd like to get to know you."

His blue eyes seemed to deepen at that, looking darker but wholly more beautiful than Cass remembered. "Why's that?"

"What? You don't want to get to know me?" She smiled at him, and Robb swallowed before nodding his head.

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Because it is extremely idiotic." Cass let her legs straighten out, her tight pants melting around her in the frost. She was cold, and Robb watched her only shiver once before taking off his fur cloak and pulling it around her shoulders. "You can't just leave and travel around Westeros."

"I can afford to." Robb stiffened, still smiling but looking completely serious about what he was saying. "I told you I've never left here before. One day I'll be lord of Winterfell and won't be able to leave that often at all."

"You can't travel on your own though." Cass ran her fingers through the frost covered grass, still not thinking it was a good idea for someone with his status. Robb was young, and although he could fight, there were people in this world much darker and dirtier than he was.

"Maybe Jon will come with me."

Cass turned, "Jon Snow?"

"Yes. We can be brothers traveling Westeros together—seeing cities and people that we would never get to see here in the North. Theon would like it too."

"You could visit me at the Red Keep."

His face didn't change, but there was a tone in his voice that made him sound almost lighter. "I think I'd like that. Can I stand and look pretty beside you?"

"Yes..." Her face felt hot again. Cass stroked the fur collar, laughing his comment off. "I can't say I miss King's Landing actually, compared to this. The North is...nice. I thought it would be bleak and depressing, but I do not feel so alone here as I do in that castle by myself."

"Good. I'm glad Winterfell agrees with you."

It did. The godswood felt strange for sure, but sitting here, next to Robb, knee deep in frosty grass, Cass felt comfortable. She felt childish almost—young and free, without any worries of court or appearances or what difficulties Renly or the rest of the council were making for her oldest brother today. "Strange for someone so southern."

"My mother is from the Riverlands. She fairs just fine here."

"You look more Tully than Stark," Cass said for no reason besides the fact that it was true. He was broader than Eddard or Jon. His hair was reddish brown, not dark, and his eyes were like the rivers themselves—green and blue and fluid. "But there's something of your father in you." She noticed that too.

The initial comment didn't seem to affect Robb at all, but the second appeared to surprise him. "How so?"

"There's some physical resemblance, but that isn't what I meant. You're..." She didn't know the right term for it, didn't know if it was correct at all. "My brother always speaks well of your father. He is very noble—committed to what he thinks is right."

"He is. Most certainly."

"You are too." She wasn't sure if she meant it as a compliment or not, and as she saw Robb's face brighten, she realized that she hadn't meant it to be. If there was something she learned from living in the Red Keep, it was that nobility and honor only went so far. It gave you friends, but it also created enemies. And sometimes, not always, it was best to face your enemies from behind. Sometimes, the less noble route also saved your skin. "Robb?"

"Yes?"

"If you ever journey to the Red Keep, I'd want you to promise me something."

"Anything, Cass."

She cringed at that, his openness and willingness. "Please, do not promise me anything. Anything is dangerous. I could take advantage of you."

"I doubt as much."

"You underestimate me."

"Perhaps." Robb looked down. "But I never said I was good at reading the expectations of others."

"You should be." Cass bit her lip. "Good at reading people, I mean. The Red Keep has taught me not to trust so easily. But also, and maybe more importantly, not to make promises you don't want to keep." She thought of why they were here, of Lord Arryn who died and the hand that would need to replace him. Cass wandered if Robb knew, if he knew that he was going to be acting lord of this land faster than he thought. "I know that sounds backwards but..."

"Why are you telling me this?"

She expected his tone to be accusatory, but it wasn't. "For some odd reason, Robb Stark, I feel worried about you. I just want to look out for my best friend, I suppose."

He was so noble, she realized. Whereas Theon Greyjoy would be unlacing his trousers, Robb Stark wouldn't even reach for her hand. She saw him glancing at it, both of their palms bounded by leather gloves, but he didn't touch her. He kept his distance. He kept away from her, and somewhere in Cass' mind, she wished he wouldn't. You barely know him. Perhaps she should be taking her own advice.

"Lady Cassana?"

Robb stood up suddenly at the sound of his sister's voice and offered Cass his hand. "Yes, Sansa?"

Though Robb answered, Sansa ignored him and kept her eyes on Cass. "Queen Cersei asked me to find you. King Robert wishes to speak with you."

"Of course he does." Cass smiled towards Robb and curtsied, more for Sansa's benefit than Robb's, and followed Sansa back inside the castle of Winterfell. Robb didn't follow, which surprised Cass actually. But she only looked back once or twice for him. Maybe he'd come back in later.

A/N:

Lots of talking with the different guys of Westeros. Fun times. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!