A/N:
Yay! 7! I have no notes except you guys are awesome. Thanks for reading!

Special thanks to reviewers since last chapter:

FollowTheSun22 (Thanks!), kairi-senpai (Yeah, I shouldn't worry so much about the canon since this is going to vary harshly in a few chapters. thanks for the reassurance!), StarkStruck11 (Just wait for how she deals with them in this...), MorraHadon (Oh cookies. I do like cookies. And spot on with Jaime. At least...that's what I intended. And I love Ned. That's all I'm saying), mythwriter (thanks!), Guest (Yeah, exactly. No idea who he competed against! Ah wells. Oh and Cass will end up somewhere when the war starts. And it's not the Red Keep. All I'm saying), DamonSalvatorelover(thanks!), Guest (here's the update!), and lilnudger82 (I'm glad it's exciting!).

Crap has officially hit the fan.

Disclaimer: I do not own this series, just this writing. Sort of.

Her brother was going on a hunt. He found her in the hall, while she was looking for his Hand and had announced it to her right then and there. Ned was forbidden to quit, much like Cass thought he would be, which only irked her more. "Is this an appropriate time?" She knew there was no stopping her brother or that her brother had any idea of what was going on. But he was leaving Ned Stark in charge of the Iron Throne—a man who had recently just resigned as his Hand. "Someone else can go fetch you boar."

"I am not too fat yet to get my own boar, little sister." He seemed surprised, and as he should. Cass usually loved when Robert went out on hunts. He was always in a much better mood after killing something. At least Ned cannot tell him about his children then. She wandered where the Stark's mind was. She had no choice but to go to his chambers and talk to find out.

She hugged her brother goodbye and immediately went up to the Tower of the Hand, did not knock, and grabbed Ned Stark by the collar.

"Lady...Lady Cassana?"
She did not talk. There were too many spiders about and this information was too privileged. It was not far to her room, and she set the fire in her chimney with more wood, causing it to roar and cover their whispers. "Your wife..."

It was then she noticed the limp in his step and she led him to a chair. Ned leaned back and groaned. She had dragged him too much for his leg.

"Is that from Ser Jaime?"
He nodded. "That and the bodies of my guards."

"Lord Stark." She kept her voice low. "You think Tyrion would truly send his own dagger to murder your son?"

"We should not be talking."

"It is safe here, Ned."

He seemed thinner, Cass noted. "I am not sure you want to hear this at all."

"All I want is what is right for the Seven Kingdoms."

"That is exactly what Varys told me too."

She scowled at that. The last thing she wanted was to be compared to Varys, a master of what he did and also a master of lies. "Then I take it back. I want to help you, Ned. And my brother."

"I found out who the father of Cersei's children are."

He said it so plainly, so casually that Cass thought for a second she heard him false. Or maybe, when she realized his statement, that Robert may have been their father. That all of this worrying and sneaking was for nothing at all. But his eyes and body said differently than his voice, and Cass had to ask, "Who?"

"Jaime Lannister."

She froze. Her whole body became rigid and cold as the words seeped into her mind. Nothing about it made sense besides the obvious. Jaime and Cersei were close and always seemed to have private talks. He always defended her. The Baratheon heirs looked wholly Lannister. Completely Lannister. Her mouth must have been open, for it felt dry soon after. Silent, Cass stood up and paced around. Ned didn't follow, but she felt his grey eyes on her back as she began to pace, mind still processing. "How..."

"Cersei told me herself."

That was it. It...it had to be true even though she didn't want to believe it. Cersei would not say something so ridiculous aloud if it wasn't. She would never admit to something so disgusting, so vile if it weren't true. Not only were Robert's children not his, but they were... She couldn't think it. "What do you intend to do?"

"I tried telling Robert today."

He obviously didn't succeed. Robert was still happy. Cersei and her children were still alive. "And?"

"When he comes back, I'll tell him. I was thinking on what you said, and I will leave some time, write to Stannis."

"My brother?" Cass nodded. "Have you talked to Renly?"

"Yes, a little. I have yet to update him on all the details." Ned sighed. "Stannis is Robert's rightful heir. He should know of it."

She could not help but agree. She was...disgusted by Cersei, by Lannister ambition, that she supported the idea of having Stannis come from Dragonstone. At least then, with the incest revealed, Tywin could not attack. No one would support him. No one would come to their rescue at all. It would be the Lannisters, alone, against the powers of King's Landing, Dragonstone, Storm's End, and, from the looks of it, Winterfell. "Ned." She suddenly felt dirty. "I can get you some milk of the poppy for your leg."

"Yes, maybe. Pycelle would not think to poison you."

Cass felt guilty at that. He was too afraid to live here, she realized. "Rest here for a while."

She left her own chambers and found one of her handmaidens nearby and asked her to bring some milk of the poppy to her room and leave it outside. "Tell Pycelle I have a headache. That is all. Speak of nothing else."

As her handmaiden left, Cassana looked out the window to see Robert's company was already off. Both of her brothers were gone on this hunt, and neither of them said goodbye to her. It wasn't much time later that Robert came back dying.

She remembered staring at him, his face puffed up and red as he lay on his sleeping bed that would soon have a new name. She knew it. Cassana understood although Renly and the others would tell her otherwise. Cersei was there with her, though Robert did not look at her at all. His eyes were trained on Cass' face, never fleeting to his beautiful wife by his bedside. All she saw was love. She wanted to cry. She couldn't cry. Robert...Robert could not die. The legacy he would be leaving behind was nothing at all—her and Renly and Stannis and a couple of bastards. Where has my house fallen?

She stroked his cheek and felt the sweat on her palms from his fever. It would be soon, she knew it. "Robert, you've always been a stubborn idiot. I told you not to go."

"Wise. You've always...been wise."

No, she was not always wise. She did not see the obvious. She did not protect him from the lions clawing at his heels. Cass gripped his hand and sat there in the silence, not wanting to force speech from him. Cersei was leaning over, words on the tip of her tongue though Cass could not look at her much. She...She did not know why, but even here, seeing Cersei looking forcefully sad over her husband, she could not help but feel...sad for her too. Sympathetic may have been a stretch, but she knew this girl's childhood must have been twisted. It was the only explanation to Cass though it did nothing to settle the anger in her stomach And Jaime's too. What drove him to his sister's bed? She shuddered and turned back to her brother. The dark, sticky blood was seeping through his bandages, and Cassana cringed. "Robert." She didn't know what to say. What do you say to someone dying? "I love you, Robert."

"Cass, I love you. You...you look like our mother."

She ran her hands through his hair, "I know." Cass gave Cersei a reassuring smile, though her answer held anything but. "I will watch your legacy, Robert. I will take care of our bloodline and our house when Renly and Stannis cannot."

He grunted at that—at the bloodline or their brothers she did not know. "Cersei?"

The blonde shifted forward, looking at him doe-eyed and dutiful. "Your Grace?"

"Find Cass a husband worthy of me—no, fuck that—find her a husband better than what I deserve or what she does even. If you are going to promise or shed tears about anything, do it over this."

She nodded. That task was simple enough for Cersei, Cass thought. Cass couldn't care less about herself at the moment. "Yes, Robert. But your bloodline..." Cass looked to Cersei, and her green eyes revealed nothing. She's had over a decade to practice—perhaps more hiding the fact that she's been fucking her brother. Her stomach churned. "Joffrey is still not of age."

"Cersei will call Ned here soon." It appeared this was not the first time Robert had told Cersei this, for the woman seemed to stiffen but understood the question enough. She did not like Ned Stark. And Cass knew it had nothing to do with what his wife did to Tyrion. But from the look of her face, she seemed to already have sent for him. Good.

Cass could not help but feel relieved. She wanted to hear it though, from the king's own mouth. "You intend on him becoming regent?"

It was noticeable this time. The question hung in the air with such force and pressure that Cass thought that Cersei might just explode from her fine silks. Good riddance. Robert nodded his head. "I do."

"So says the King." Cass curtsied.

"Cass, leave me and my wife alone, will you?"

Cass backed away from the room, and said to Cersei, "I will go to the children."

The blonde beauty nodded, but didn't turn around at all.

The children were close by. Cass had been avoiding them, but seeing them sit in a small circle with their Septas, eyes dark and worried, made her heart twist. She knew these children. She...she could not see any Baratheon in them—not even the dark eyes that were rare but did pop up from her mother. Their eyes shone green, not blue. Their hair glistened in the light like spun gold. Cass swallowed and gave Myrcella a hug. Even their cheekbones were completely wrong. They are lion cubs and that is all. No...not all. I know them still. "My loves."

The little girl leaned on her shoulder. It felt wet. "Aunt Cassana!" The grip tightened, and soon Tommen waddled over and tugged at Cass's long sleeve. She hugged him as well, and exhaled. The people would think these children monsters. Her eyes turned to Joffrey—as far as the Seven Kingdoms knew—the true heir.

"You've been missing from court, dear aunt."

She swallowed. But Cass stood, picking up Tommen with her. "I was not feeling well." Cass raised her chin. She would not be intimidated by someone who was not even man grown. "Now I feel even worse as you can understand."

"My uncle has also been disappearing."

Her mind was turning. Joffrey suspected something. The little prick suspected her. I did not think him that intelligent. She'd have to watch herself. "I do not know which you mean. Jaime is gone, as you might have known, and who knows where Renly goes, Joff. He's a free man and I suspect he takes advantage of that freedom rather unforced." A shadow caught her eye, and she sat Tommen back on the ground, touching his nose.

"Is Father going to be alright?" Tommen asked, weakly.

"No, Father will not be alright. Father was just mauled by a boar," Joff snapped.

Cass turned, letting the shadow past for now. "Joffrey, if you are to be king one day, learn how to hold your tongue and show compassion." Prick.

"When I am king one day, dear aunt, I will not need to."

"Then your reign will not be a long one, my nephew. Do not mistake my statement as a threat, but as guidance." She said it sweetly, smiling and pushing back Joffrey's hair in the same way she had done with all the children since they were young.

Joffrey did not seem bothered by the words or the contact. He just sat down, scoffing, which was not unusual.

She curtsied as an exit, and echoed a thought her and Tyrion had both discussed in detail before. Why couldn't Tommen have been born first?

"Lord Stark!" She knew she saw him passing, knew he was going to Robert. She would talk to him before Cersei could...before he could talk to Robert. "Lord Stark, it's Cassana Baratheon."

That name demanded power sometimes—the full name—no nicknames or pure surnames alone. Cassana Baratheon was the Lady of Storm's End before she died. And Cass would exploit that name when needed. Though it appeared Ned did not mean to go pass her. He turned, clearly surprised and caught up in his head. "Cass." He bowed a bit and held his hand to his heart.

"You are going to see my brother?"

"Yes, my lady. Do you wish to join me?"

She shook her head. Ned needed to be alone. "I wish to know what you are planning on saying to him. Cersei had called you to him."

Ned acknowledged that. "I am still uncertain."

She could not sway him, Cass knew. Nor could Robert decree the death of her or her children while she was right outside. The shift in power was obvious. Cersei was gaining strength and hold over the Red Keep. The name of the king always kept her back, Cass knew, but that would soon fade with Robert's death if they did not act, if she did not leave Ned Stark alone. "I will wait for you outside."

"As you wish."

Cersei was soon joining her outside the room, and the two ladies stood there, eyes to the ground. "Your children." Cass started. "They have seen him?"

"A little. I do not wish to subject them much."

She wondered if that were true if Jaime was the one who was dying. Cass once looked to Cersei in admiration. She was beautiful, truly, probably the most beautiful woman Cass had seen. She remembered their wedding. Cass was in awe. Cass wanted to be as beautiful as Cersei was. She wanted blonde hair and white silks. She wanted the beautiful red and golds of the house Lannister to adorn her and emerald green eyes that blazed like wildfire. She was a Baratheon now though, only through marriage, but Cass saw how Lannister she was. She'd always be Lannister, and Cass wondered if she would be the same. I am of the House Baratheon. Would that ever change? Would she trade in her black and golds for a new color and never think of them again?

Cass remembered what Joffrey had said. Suspicion might have been in her mind too. "This must be trying, Your Grace. If you need anything from me, please let me know."

It seemed that Cersei was about to ask her something but seemed to have changed her mind. "No, but thank you, Cassana." Her voice was soft, and Cass wondered if she were just playing the part. Cersei straightened her chin and opened her mouth again, "Actually, I am curious. You saw my brother before he left north, did you not?"

"Yes, my queen."

"What did he say to you?"

Cass blinked and looked away. "Only that he hates the Starks." She decided that perhaps she and Jaime had discussed the matter in greater detail so she continued, "I told him that Ned wanted me to marry his son Robb."

"Is that true?"

She shook her head, "It was not. Jaime took it as such though, I'm afraid."

"You would not consider that match then?"

Cersei was trying to play her, seeming truly interested in Robert's last wish but also testing her loyalty. To the Starks or the Lannisters. Cass did not hesitate. "The Starks are a good house. Sansa is a fine lady and would make a fine queen one day. But Robb is too much like his father."

"And what do you mean by that?"

Cass wasn't sure. It just seemed like the answer Cersei wanted to hear. "I think you know."

Ned came out soon after, and Cersei snaked her way back into the room.

"Did you..."

Ned shook his head and took a piece of paper from his pocket, not saying anything. It was Robert's will, Cass realized. "True heir?"

"I may have changed the wording."

"No one will know." That was a double-edged sword. "No one saw you write this."

"I am his hand."

"And as the King's sister, I have seen it. You could not have made up such a will." Cass smiled.

"Oh?"

"You lack the ambition."

He did. Ned Stark did not want to be king, but Cass would have him. Being king was better than being dead.

Renly was knocking on her door days after Robert was hurt by the boar. He walked in, Ser Loras behind him, and started to open her drawers and throw her things on the floor.

"Renly!" She barely acknowledged Loras, too shocked by her youngest brother's actions. "What are you doing?" Cass was in bed. She had been sleeping.
"I'm packing. Well, helping you pack."

"Why?"

"We're going. Loras will accompany you ahead while I leave with our bannermen."

Loras was half covering his eyes since Cass was not completely decent. "I'm sorry, Lady Cassana. This is urgent."

She did not care about Ser Loras seeing her like this. Loras was not interested in her anyway and she needed to get her brother to stop. "I am not leaving the Red Keep."

"Cass." Renly stopped and touched her shoulder. "Robert's dead."

Her heart sunk. She knew it was coming, had known, but...still... Cass pushed his hand away and sat down. The tears were about to come but she sucked them back down. She did not have time to cry. "Then we must bury him."

"There is no time for that. Joffrey will be crowned king and the Lannisters will hold the Iron Throne with a vice grip."

The 'rumors' had spread then, or maybe it was Ned Stark who talked to Renly, she did not know. "So you intend to retreat to Storm's End? Back to Baratheon territory?"

"I intend to go to Highgarden."

She turned to Loras. "Tyrell land."

"Yes. The Tyrells support Baratheon claim to the throne and not a king born from incest."

The Tyrells support the winning side of the war. But Cass just nodded. This was going too fast for her. She had wished Renly had sent her some word. At least he has not left completely without me. "We should not abandon King's Landing, Renly. We have our bannermen and the gold cloaks here. The Lannisters are no threat. Send for Highgarden if you wish. I suppose you can have your father, Loras, be a part of the small council if he wishes, and perhaps even Hand. Ned Stark does not want it."

"If you think we own the gold cloaks, little sister, you are a great fool."

She grimaced at that. Cersei has paid them off? "Then we have you, and Petyr must be loyal to the Starks. You see how he talks about Lady Cateyln."

"It is that what worries me for Ned Stark." Renly groaned and kept piling her bags. "Ned Stark has his own plans in motion. But he is the next target. I have already talked to him and he refused my plans. He wishes to deliver the throne to Stannis. He is not going to accept the regency."

Cass narrowed her dark eyes, "It is Stannis' throne, brother. If we are to follow the..."

"Oh come on, Cass, you know as well as I do what kind of king Stannis would be."

"Then what do you intend, Renly?" She stared at them both, looking between Loras and Renly when she finally figured it out. She said it slower, harsher. "What do you intend?"

Loras was the one who answered her, "Lord Renly will claim his right to the Iron Throne."

"He does not have it though." Cass couldn't help saying it. "It is Stannis' and then yours. What right do you think you have to it?"

Renly wasn't talking; the look on his face was marked with anger and shame. Loras was passionate though, exalted by the proposition. "Renly will be an excellent king, my lady. He is fair and intelligent. The people love him."

"That they do and they will love him more as this rumor of Joffrey's birth spreads." Cass shook her head. "What if Stannis fights you for this?" She knew her now oldest brother. He was not satisfied with Dragonstone after he almost died saving Storm's End. Dragonstone had traditionally been a land given to the king's oldest brother, but the Baratheons were not Targaryeans. There was no love for that land, and the land of Storm's End was wealthier. "You intend to divide our house over this metal seat?"

"And if I do, sister," Renly finally spoke. "What side do you choose?"

She hesitated, mouth open. Was he really ready to declare war on their brother? Right after Robert died? "Please, Renly, do not do this."

His blue eyes dulled. "Ser Loras, I cannot speak to her anymore." He turned out of the room. "Help my sister pack or leave her here. I do not care."

She was left with the Knight of the Flowers, no longer tired or sad. She was angry at Renly, at Loras, at Robert for dying and for Cersei and Jaime. She wanted to leave the Red Keep but not for Highgarden or Storm's End or Dragonstone. She did not know where to go anymore. All of the places that were once her home seemed scattered, broken. Her house was breaking. Her house...the proud stag with a crown around his neck. It was shattered now. "Ser Loras..."

"He intends on marrying my sister, Margaery."

Cass nodded. "You are not to be his consort then?"

Loras was not taken aback. "Renly said you might have known. I thought so too. You understand us."

"I do not understand this, Ser Loras."

"If I did not intend on joining his Kingsguard, we could marry, Cassana. You and I. It would make our relationship much easier."

Cass tinged with anger. She was not here to make Renly's life easier. She was not...she could not support this. He was acting like a child again, fighting for a toy. Renly thought because of his charisma that he could steal Stannis' birthright, but Stannis was stubborn and hard. He would not be afraid to fight Renly, even with the power of Highgarden supporting him. "This is foolish. Renly and Stannis could fight under one banner: the Baratheon banner. They are brothers."

"And they are putting you in a tough spot, I know, but please do not make the wrong choice, Cassana. Come with us to Highgarden. It is beautiful there."

She was sure it was, as beautiful as the Tyrells. But there was so much left to do here. Cersei had some sort of plan, that Cass was sure of with Renly's admission about the City Watch. She could not leave Ned Stark here or her nephews and nieces to rot. "Perhaps I will make it there at a later date, Ser Loras. I...I cannot make this decision right now. And someone needs to bury Robert still."

"I told him as such." Loras declined his head. "I will ask Renly to have some bannermen stay behind for you. It is only right."

"Thank you."

"Do you wish for me to say anything to Renly?"

She didn't know what to say, only maybe perhaps to ask him to reconsider. But Loras would not deliver that message. "Just remind him that Stannis is reasonable. It may not need be a battle between brothers. You can understand why I would not want that." Loras nodded and Cass went on. "Stannis is not a charismatic man, he knows this. He may not want the throne. Give him an offer—maybe Storm's End—that's what he has always wanted, and Renly can have his iron seat."

Loras bowed and left, not saying anything else, and Cass fell on her bed and cried over her dead brother and her dying house.

A/N:

Yeah...

I'm sleepy. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. And Jaime fans, don't kill me. :D