A/N:

Hey ya'll! So, some good news and bad news. Good news is I'm posting early because of the bad news to follow. I'm going on vacay for about two weeks, which means I won't be able to post next week. So sorry! But the next part will be extra good to make up for it.

Special thanks to all my readers and reviewers as always :)

i-need-shine (it's my mission to make the audience as confused about Robb and Jaime as Cass is/will be), purple sky always (Red Wedding? What's that? Ha just kidding. It'd be such an epic scene to write, though my heart sort of hurts thinking of it), Doreandrix (thank you so much!), MutiaRawr (here's more dynamic!), rikka21 (oh there's more. just wait :)), ThatGirl54 (Girl's gotta catch some sort of break, I suppose.), Guest (Glad it wasn't boring!And oh my. The Baratheon Brothers. They will be a whole mess of issues ahead), and StarkStruck11 (yay! glad you like my writing so much!).

Disclaimer: I do not own this series at all. In fact, for some odd reason I don't understand, I didn't even own the 4th book (although the 5th I had) until today. Weird.

They rode out early or was it late? Cass had no idea what time it was. She tried to sleep through it, but the sound of men tacking their horses and the clinging of chainmail reminded her of Jaime. She rolled to her side and exhaled. They will be fighting Jaime now. They will be hunting for his blood. Cass remembered him in his white armor, snow colored cape flapping under him, which she wrecked whenever they'd roll in the mud if he forgot to take it off. She remembered his heavy sword and when he tried to teach it to her when she was 13 and still a girl. Cass had always dropped it or tripped. But he held it easily, with such grace and dexterity that Cass remembered thinking of how he could remove it from his arm at all. They seemed to be the same being—one beautiful and deadly thing. And then, she was suddenly afraid for Robb Stark.

It seemed hours went by before Catelyn Stark came into her tent, dressed in only her night clothes and a fur covering, and sat by her side. "Shh."

Cass wondered what she was doing, why she was holding her up like that and touching her arms. It was only when she felt the drops on her bare hands that she realized she was crying a little. She was so, so very tired. The men were still preparing, but she wondered if her wailings called Catelyn here through the noise.

"I cannot sleep either."

Cass rubbed at her face. She was a woman, not a babe. "My apologies. I have no reason..."

"Your brother has just died and the others are fighting each other for his crown." Catelyn let her go and looked at her. "You are holding yourself together just fine."

It was more than that. It was this battle too; Robb and Jaime at each other's throats, the feeling deep in her gut that one of them would end up dead in the morning. "How is your husband, my lady?"

She couldn't ask about Robb or the war or the battle. Cass stared at Catelyn who had not been expecting the question. "Much better. I brought you here to speak with him actually. How did you know to ask of him?"
Cass didn't. Eddard Stark was a distraction to her thoughts. "Just a guess."

Lady Catelyn brought her to a standing position, had a handmaiden give her a robe, and led her to one of the medical tents. It was one of the first times she had seen Ned wholly lucid in a while, the grey in his eyes seeming brighter even here in the midst of a battle camp. Cass curtsied. She was in Stark and Tully land after all. "My lord."

"Please." Ned did not move from his seat. His leg was braced, but not gone like Cass had feared. "We are well passed formalities, Cassana."

It was then she noticed the man beside him, bent on both knees in front of his father. Theon was there too, by Robb's side, and Grey Wind. Theon had a bow on his back, and Cass remembered their time in Winterfell. Thank the gods he's a good shot now. But she almost took back the statement. Where would he send those arrows? It's Lord Tywin out there...do not even worry about that.

"Yet I still feel like an outsider in this company," She said honestly. "Ned, I am glad to see you well. The winter maesters have much power over your body." Cass knew that was probably not the case, that he had been deprived proper medicine and nourishment for too long in King's Landing.

"I am glad to be alive. And before I leave, I wanted to thank you."

She was taken aback, "Excuse me, Lord Eddard, but you cannot possibly think of fighting."

But maybe he did. Maybe with his arrival, he was the new king in the North. She looked to Robb briefly, but there was no sign there. Ned answered her, "No, my place is in my keep. I am still Lord of Winterfell, and my sons need me while there mother is away."

Cass could not help but think the reverse might best serve to be true, that the younger boys needed their mother and Robb his father. Robb was still king. He had been declared by his men, Cass realized. Ned's return was wonderful, and he'd be given Winterfell back. He did not want it. She saw it in Ned's eyes. He does not want a crown. He just wants to go home. She wondered if Robb wanted it either.

"My father has the right mind for war." Robb was reading her. He seemed to do it easily, which frightened her. "But the men do not need two leaders. He says I have left Winterfell too bare."

Bare? She knew Ned just wanted to go home; she could not blame him for it. But it bothered her that they were not being honest with her. "From what? Wildlings and white walkers?"

Robb hesitated. "From the shore, Cass."

Her mind immediately went to the Iron Islands and the rebellion years and years ago, but from the look of Robb's eyes, that was not the case. Her brother Stannis could easily sail the other way—not across Blackwater—but north around the Fingers and past White Harbor to Winterfell. "I see." She had to stop wasting their time. "Then yes, it is best if you march with your men the other way with the confusion of battle."

Ned nodded. "Yes, that was the plan. I thank you again, Cassana. Your help will not be forgotten."

No, it won't. Not from either side she feared. An old phrase rang through her head and Cass gritted her teeth, one better known than the lion's more traditional motto.

She let Catelyn say goodbye to her husband and started to move out of the medical tent. The removed flaps revealed the northerners still arming and preparing, but they were getting ready to leave soon enough. It would be any moment now that Robb would come and announce it. He would stand in the center, and march his lords and advisors and soldiers out to face the Lannisters. Gods let them be o-

The hand on her shoulder had her turning, and Cass grabbed it, one hand by the wrist and the other by the shoulder, waiting for the need to bend the limb back. I am too tense. Robb gave her a funny look even as she let go. "Um, hello?"

"I'm sorry." Cass was honest. "War makes me on edge a little."

"You nearly did the same thing in the godswood."

Cass had forgotten about that. She looked behind Robb to see Grey Wind approaching. At least he has him. The wolf will protect Robb. Cass stood in front of him, kneading her hands. I have no favor to give him. Wasn't that what she was supposed to do? Hand him a favor? A kiss on the cheek or something? But no, they were not engaged. She did not owe him anything. "I wish you luck."

He exhaled and then smiled slowly, a lazy sort of smile. Robb was still tired, and once again Cass was confused about the time though she did not ask him. He seemed heavy, burdened, and far, far too young. He is younger than me. She could not picture herself doing this. She was glad she would never have to. "Thank you." He turned away from her, paces quickening, but Grey Wind stayed behind.

"Robb?" Thoughts of 'what if he dies' were suddenly spiraling, and she walked up a bit before he turned. She had kissed Jaime on the cheek—Jaime who was a king slayer and an incestuous bastard. Jaime who could carve out Robb Stark's heart with a dagger, with a spoon, if he were given the chance to. So Cass leaned in as Robb approached and set a kiss on his cheek, almost on the lips, and ripped off one of her rings. It was a gold band with a large, thick chunk of black stone in the center—the colors of her house. "It's obsidian." She said to his questioning eyes. "Dragonglass."

He stared at it for far too long but did not reach to take it. "I do not think it will fit."

"Here then." She removed Stannis' chain from her neck and took off Robb's ring, placing it on her right ring finger. "I couldn't...wear it before, not in the Red Keep, but here I can. I will."

"No, you wore it every day." He picked up the chain and examined it, and Cass grasped his meaning. "I already have your pin."

She could see the gold on his belt. "And I want you to have this."

"It was your mother's..."

"And she's never going to wear it again," Cass said. Why doesn't he just take it? She stepped back. "If you don't want it..."

"No!" Robb nearly shouted, causing some men to look at him. At a new thought, Robb nearly laughed. "I have nothing to give you except fur."

You have given me enough already. Had he not seen that? He had given her a place to stay while the Red Keep pushed her out, while her brothers were at each other's throats. Cass took the chain from his hands and laced the ring on it, clasping the hook after putting it around Robb's neck. His hair is so curly. She touched it briefly, gently, hoping he wouldn't notice, and then said behind him, "Just come back. That is more than enough."

Robb was then brought to his horse, no more words exchanged between them. Cass turned around and went back into the tent, where Catelyn was still saying goodbye to Ned. "Oh, Cassana. Come, follow me." She gave her husband one last kiss and then brought Cass away from the medical tent.

It was unusual for a woman to be in war tents, but Catelyn Stark did not seem bothered by it. She led Cass easily, navigating the grey billows of cloth like she had been there for years. Weeks probably. She wondered how Robb's men first responded to him toting around his mother. But Catelyn was privy to politics and war. She had lived through multiple already.

Her tent was close to Robb's but not nearly as big. But like her king's, the floors and walls were covered with deep furs. The fire inside was unlit, but Catelyn soon called over a servant to light and boil tea for them. "Are you hungry?"

Starving. "Yes, actually." She couldn't remember the last time she could relax and eat a meal. She still couldn't relax and eat this meal, but she took it anyway, the oats steaming with crushed berry juice spilling through the warm milk. It was delicious because it was warm and not dried bread like she had been eating these past weeks. Cass ate the oats and grains, sucked down the milk, and set the bowl aside. She had a burning question on her mind, though she already thought she knew the answer. "Does Robb intend to take the Iron Throne?"

Catelyn looked up from her own meal for she had not scoffed it down quite as heartily. "No, Cassana. He does not."

Her confusion was blatant, obvious. Cass' mouth fell open a bit, but she tried to convince Lady Stark that that was only because she was about to drink some tea. "Oh." Then why is he fighting this war? Is this all for his sisters?

She was too cruel, maybe. She knew the Tully's words. Family. Duty. Honor. But she did not see herself sending all of these men out to die for two people. Cass, though, would never utter those words to Catelyn.

"I suppose I just assumed that he..."

"The North still seeks its independence," Catelyn explained. "Robb and his men want sovereignty for all the lands above the neck."

And that is nearly half of the kingdom. "And he plans to negotiate this with Joffrey one day?" Cass knew it would be more likely that Joff would just order his head.

"No, your brothers."

There was that. There were her two brothers out there, and her shoulders relaxed a bit that Robb did not intend on fighting them. If she were honest with herself, she'd admit that she didn't want Robb fighting the Lannisters either. Jaime...Jaime had done some horrible things, unquestionably disgusting and beyond what Cass had ever expected of him. But he was still Jaime. He was arrogant and cruel—a killer in his own words. But not to me. Cass was ripping out bits of fur from the blanket on her knees. He has only looked out for me. Didn't she owe the same to him?

Joffrey was a different story, and she doubted now that she'd bat an eyelash if she saw his head on a spike. Her hands strayed to the marks on her cheek, and she regretted not choking him. "Sorry." Catelyn had been looking at her. She must have been in her own head for too long. "I'm glad for that." There would be no viable reason why either of her brothers would want the North besides vanity and pride.

"Does that help you, Cassana?"

She nodded, even though she still felt the ache in her chest, the heavy weight of stress burdening her heart. "It is good to know there is a chance my house will not be at war with you...as long as my brothers do not believe the Lannister's lies."

"I plan on meeting with your brother soon."

Cass' attention peaked. "Which one?"

"Lord Renly's camp at first, but I plan on speaking to both of them before..."

"Oh." Cass cut her off, not wanting to hear it. The knots in her gut tightened at that, at thinking Cersei's plan may not have failed completely but just in the wrong way. Her brothers were not going after Joffrey—not until they got rid of each other first.

"I'm trying to convince them to form an alliance." Catelyn refilled her cup of tea with more hot water. "You can join me if you wish."

I can go home? For the past month or so, that was all Cass had wanted. She thought King's Landing was her home, but King's Landing had turned on her. Renly had escaped in time, and she asked herself daily whether she made the right choice staying put for Ned Stark. I did. She looked at Catelyn's face. He might be dead now otherwise. "I...I don't know." The answer from her mouth surprised even her.

"You can stay in Highgarden if you wish. The Tyrell's are backing your brother. I think you'd be safe there."

"But what if he doesn't agree? What if he wants to fight you still?" And Stannis. What will I do if he still wishes to fight him?

Catelyn narrowed her eyes, "And you would choose our house over your own?"

No. I have no more house to choose, don't you see? "If Renly refuses your alliance, he's being selfish." Cass knew that. It was what she was afraid of. "Stannis and he do not get along; they will be selfish with each other too. I know your children. If this were Robb and Bran, there would be no question of an alliance, but my brothers are very different. I can't go to one and stand idly as he fights the other."

"I cannot believe it would come to that. Surely they are reasonable? Stannis is a known soldier, and your younger brother has been Master of Laws for years now."

Catelyn didn't understand. She didn't have the experience of her family. The Starks and Tullys would fight, die for their family—she knew that. She was standing in the evidence of that right now. "The Baratheon children were once described as metals by our old smithy." She rolled one of the rings on her finger. "He said Robert was true steel. Shining, tough—a good soldier, a great one."

"There are many tales of your late brother as a fighter, Cassana."

She knew that. This man, she thought Donal was his name, knew all of them too well. "He said Stannis was iron. He's strong but brittle. Pure iron is black and falls apart with time. Renly's copper—pretty but not much other than that. They resent that of each other, but they also see it as their way to the crown. Stannis knows Renly cannot run a country, and Renly knows that the people will not follow Stannis. I am afraid, Lady Catelyn, that if I show up in one of their camps, I will have choosen between iron and copper." I rather hide here. I rather be a hostage to the Starks.

"What are you?"

Cass sipped her tea, letting the warmth slide down into her bones. "I'm sorry?"

"Did he describe you, Cassana?"

She didn't want to mention that. Donal did describe her, but not to her face ever. "He said I was gold. That I was soft, malleable, and only good for currency." Her eyes met Catelyn's. "Robert knew that. I think that's why he waited so long to marry me off. He was...looking for the best price." The other words bothered her. Was she soft because she was a woman? Was she malleable because she would choose to stay here, under Stark banners, than go back to her own?

"Marriage is a funny thing."

The men were gone now. Catelyn had said they would talk about what she was to House Stark. Perhaps she intended on talking about her becoming a part of it. She shivered and coughed. "Is it? I am inexperienced."

Catelyn ignored her defensive remark. "I was supposed to marry Ned's brother, Brandon."

And my brother was supposed to marry Lyanna. Cass thought that this great mess could have been prevented if he had. "I learned of his death, Lady Catelyn. I am sorry."

She waved the apology aside. "I thought for a moment that was it for me. I did not know Brandon well, but I knew the Stark name. Littlefinger tried fighting for my hand, did you know that?"

"I did not." I certainly did not. Though she thought Renly had known. Why would Ned ever trust that man? "But then Ned married you, right before he went to war."

"He gave me my own keep and son. I did not think I would have been so lucky to love him too." Catelyn stared at the fire. "I can't picture it now. If Brandon had lived, seeing Ned every day and having it mean nothing. It was all circumstance, but it was right, Cassana."

Cass didn't mince words. "Is marrying your son circumstance?"

She didn't seem to want to answer the question. "Getting Lord Walder Frey to give his banners and let us cross the Twins is hard. He is my father's bannerman, but I am sure you have heard of his reputation."

Yes, she had. Hearing about the Frey's late arrival to battle was almost laughable to Cass. She did not understand how someone could lack such loyalty to their own lord. "Did Robb speak to him?"

"As a Tully, I thought it best if I spoke with him. He agreed to our crossing if I agreed to make one of his daughters a queen."
Her throat suddenly became dry. And Catelyn's statement to her the night before only made her palms sweaty. She twisted the ring on her finger. "Robb said no." It wasn't posed as a question at all. Cass knew he did.

"He refused the offer and said we would have to find another way to cross the Trident."

"But Frey's banners are here. I saw the towers."

Catelyn frowned. "We had to cross the Twins to be here in time. I told Robb that if he wanted to reject the offer from Lord Frey, he would need to personally and give a damn good reason."

There was really only one damn good reason Cass could think of that would involve Robb's mother not knowing. "He said he was promised to another."

"Yes, he did. I thought that would be the end. That our army would have to return and my husband and girls would be lost. But Robb instead made Frey a deal to get rid of two of his daughters to my youngest sons."

"Two princesses instead of a queen."

"Precisely."

That was a lot of work and risk just to avoid a marriage. Catelyn believed it was too. Her face seemed pointed, accusatory, and Cass admitted, "I've made no secret promise with your son."

"I know you two have spent time in Winterfell alone."

"I can assure you it was innocent." She felt almost angry. "I guard my honor better than that."

Her blue eyes were looking at her hand, the ring on her finger, and Cass stiffened. She thinks we're already betrothed? No, that wouldn't have made sense. Yes, Catelyn was courteous to her, but she always had been. And she would not suggest that Cass leave if she already promised herself to the man here. I brought home her husband and risked getting killed. I chose to stay here over returning to my brothers. Family was the first word to the Tullys. Family was above everything, and Catelyn was trying to make sense of Cass' decisions when they were still so unclear to Cass herself.

"I do not mean to offend you, Cassana. I also trust my son's honor."

Cass said nothing. She wondered if she did approach Robb, her or maybe another, more beautiful girl, if he would be so honorable. She swallowed at the thought and shifted on the furs. "Cersei would not throw me here if she thought it was what I wanted. You said it was my choice what I am to you."

"I did."

"I do not wish to be a hostage here, but...I also do not wish to promise something I am not sure I can keep."

"But you do not wish to come with me? To be honest, it was not my plan to go as Robb's envoy."

Catelyn Stark did not understand what Cass was thinking. This was a war camp. It was stupid, silly, but she didn't want to see her brothers fighting over the crown and then wake up one morning to one of them coming back from battle, red staining his armor from spilling his own blood. Winterfell was there. Winterfell was a place she was welcomed to. It was safe, but still she felt hesitation.

Catelyn took her hand suddenly, looking at the ring closely—the direwolf smoothly engraved in the silver. "I will not lie and say that I don't want you to marry Robb. It will bind an alliance with the Baratheons, but I am not your mother. Nor do I want to force you to marry my son. He deserves more than that."

He did. Cass knew it. Though if Dolan is right I should be so lucky. "I think that's why I want to stay here."

Catelyn let her hand go, "I can have you go to Winterfell or when my son is back, we can make our way to Riverrun."

Cass knew she would make that suggestion concerning Winterfell. Riverrun never became a possibility in her mind. To Cass, most of this conversation was moot. The Lady Stark could not leave now to find her brother in Highgarden for the Lannisters were on the way. And Cass was sure the Lannister host would only come closer and closer, swallowing them whole. Will Tywin send me back to King's Landing? Or will he just kill me? She looked to Catelyn. Even if she loved Robb, she could not promise herself to him like this now, not when she may never see him alive again. "Perhaps we should...wait before we make any further decision."

The red headed woman across from her looked as if she wanted to leave at that statement for it suggested something dark and nightmare like. But instead, Catelyn pulled a crocheting item from the side of where she was sitting. She's staying here. Cass accepted a second wooden frame that Catelyn had. Even if this was needlework, she welcomed the distraction and the company that came with it.

A/N:

Lots of talking. It's all a setup, I swear.

Sorry that I am going to be MIA, but I'll have a nice juicy chapter to come back with.

Thanks everyone!