A/N:

Hello all! Same old speech: Thanks a ton for reading! My little writer's heart appreciates it immensely! And special thanks to all my reviewers since last chapter:

StarkStruck11 (They are tons of fun to write together. And expect a lot more of them here on out! And of course more twists.), HermioneandMarcus (you're welcome! And thank you!), imaygopop (Yeah, I sort of never believed that he couldn't know. Joanna knew. Kevan knew. And Tywin didn't? unlikely! Glad you felt the same!), Allimba (thank you and here it is!), Belladonna007 (Hehe, exactly. But that's what makes it interesting..I hope. Also I'm so happy you're liking Cass' less than perfect decisions. You nailed that. Spot on), (I hope you got my PM explaining your question! And still no promises on pairing. I'm being a mean author when it comes to that one.), Guest (Yeah, she's definitely a little nuts. And yeah, as a reader of the books, it's been hard to put the blinders on and pretend that that whole part of the world is nonexistent. But of course that can't last for long. And glad you liked their moment!), and Red red red ribbon (d'aww thanks).

I think I started a bit of a pairing war, didn't I? Gah. I guess some things I can say to clarify my thoughts about it (to those who are curious) is that chemistry is one thing, love is another, marriage is something completely different, and they don't always align. But they could. This was not helpful, was it?

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire.

He was dragging her back inside by the wrist, his men watching hers outside the gates. She felt like a child being scolded. Jaime was treating her like she was six years old still, but she wasn't. She knew what she was doing. Yes, it may have been risky. Yes, the burning acid in her gut might drench her stomach as she pictured walking through the Lion Gate and into King's Landing (she was sure that was the one she'd be paraded through.), but Cassana was not about to change her mind.

It was almost entertaining to see Jaime's face, the anger and fear and overall annoyance with what she just did. But she gave only a small grin and watched as he paced in front of her, sword clanging on his hip.

"Do I even dare ask what you are thinking?" He didn't look at her.

"I'm protecting my investment in the King of the North." Cass shrugged. "Surely you're father can appreciate that. And even though he isn't exactly a king anymore…"

Jaime stopped in his tracks and grabbed her hand again. "Cersei wants you dead."

"Cersei wants a cock too, but I don't see that happening anytime soon." She raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

Jaime gritted his teeth, but Cass was past caring. It was obvious that woman wanted to rule, that she thought herself the heir to Casterly Rock when it was her brother's inheritance, and the king whenever Robert wasn't in the room. And when the words left her lips, Cass suddenly remembered her and Jaime's relationship. They're twins. Cass swallowed. She sees Jaime as what she should be, doesn't she? Cass held her stern expression at the thought.

"I don't want to see your corpse."

"She's just a woman. You have spoken to your father, haven't you? Whatever anger he had when he asked for my head must be gone by now. I'm worth more alive."

"There's a difference between being alive and being safe." Jaime's grip on her softened. "Cassana, if you go, your life is at risk. I won't be able to protect you."

"I didn't ask for that." She thought of Robb when he said the words. There was a difference between being alive and being safe. He was not safe there, much more at risk than she was. I am just a girl…I cannot command armies or lead kingdoms. They will think nothing of me but a bartering piece. "How was Sansa Stark faring?"

"She's married to my brother." Jaime didn't seem to understand. "How do you think she is?"

"Safe." Ned was stuck in a dungeon while his daughter married the heir to Casterly Rock. Cass remembered the day on the Sept of Baelor. Ilyn Payne was going to cut off his head. She still wasn't sure why her shouts had him stop, but they had. What if I hadn't been there? What if Robb winds up there too? If she were to receive that raven while sitting in her brother's camps, Cass would never be able to forgive herself. "If marrying a Lannister is the worst thing they do to lord's daughters…"

"You are not just a lord's daughter."

"I am." Cassana argued. "And you're lying. You will protect me."

The Kingslayer looked away and back to his men, straightening his shoulders as her words sunk in. "You sound certain."

"Are you not? Would you let me die? If you could do something to stop it, would you let them kill me, Jaime?"

He sniffed and shook his head. "That's why you're coming then."

"Because I know you'll keep me safe?"

"No." He walked forward, armor clamoring. "You're going for him."

Her breath caught. She wanted to argue, but couldn't. Jaime thought…he thought… But is he wrong? Cass realized he wasn't. She was going to protect Robb Stark. If she had any sense at all, she would stay with her men and go back to Stannis. "You need me to quell Stannis. Sending me back won't stop him."

"See your men off." Jaime was done talking it seemed. "It's your life you're throwing away." He stopped dead, digging through a satchel on his belt. "Wait for Beric before you run to him, won't you?" The piece of metal was flicked from the Kingslayer's fingers and fell on to the stone floor.

Cassana didn't move towards the object. She watched Jaime walk away, boots echoing across the floor, and wondered what in the hells she was doing.

You said you'd never go back there, Cassana.

She was terrified of that castle. It reminded her of death, of Renly leaving and her life turning into shreds of what it once was. But it was also the only home she truly ever had. She might be the Lady of Storm's End in title, but she had only been there a handful of times. In some strange way, she missed it. She missed running through the long stretch of hallways, seeing Blackwater Bay outside of the windows, and her brother drink and eat and laugh on a throne made out of swords. Those days are done. They will not come again, Cass.

She thought of when her and Jaime had laughed and trained. How she would blush and joke when he made suggestions about who she would marry, and how they would never take anything too seriously. How'd he scold her when she was little and help her sneak away from feasts when she was older.

They're dead, Cass. Those days are dead. Robert too. And Renly. Jaime is different, but he's…he's still…

She saw Beric come through the doors and walk towards her. His eyes looked tired and baggy, and he stared on at her, exhausted. "Did you drop that?"

He was talking about the piece of metal Jaime had thrown. Cass shook her head, but Dondarrion brought it to her anyway. The wolf was still there, engraved in the plain silver, and Cass took it in her hand. Jaime had kept the object when they were running from Robb's camp, but now, it seemed, he was handing it back to her. Cass swallowed. "Thank you."

"I suppose I can't convince you to come with us to you brother?"

Cass shook her head. "Let me pay my debt to the Lannisters, Beric." She tugged at the loose strands of dark hair. "I did mean that back there though. You have done so much for me. I don't know how to repay that debt."

"I was loyal to your brother, Lady Cassana, and then his Hand. As the Brotherhood, I wanted to serve the realm to the best of my abilities, and I found that by serving you."

She flushed. "You speak too highly of me. I have done nothing. But my brother…"

"I will follow your command and go to his camp, my lady. But I know what company your brother keeps."

Melisandre, yes. Dondarrion surprised her with his tone and apparent lack of loyalty. Stannis was the heir and a Baratheon too. But he won't follow him, will he? "She is just a woman, Beric." Cass exhaled. That sentence seemed untrue. "Why did Jaime send you back?"

He was looking at the piece of jewelry in her hands. "He woke this morning,".

Her mouth fell. Cass leaned back, almost falling. "And no one told me?" She was angry at that, but she tried to swallow the emotion down. She wanted to talk to Robb. She had woken up in the middle of many nights with the gravestones in her head. Robb was a king. Some say he still is. She could see him pale and cold. She could see the blood still flowing from his chest and his body in the ground "Why did no one tell me that Robb was awake?"

"The Lannisters didn't think he concerned you anymore. Neither did we." Beric said with an edge in his voice.

She ignored it. He was confused by her alliances—so be it. He wouldn't be the first or the last that wondered why she held so much love for the Starks. That love reminded her of someone much worse. "What of Roose Bolton?"

Beric held the door to the hallway open for her. "Roose Bolton they are killing."

She was surprised. "Why? I thought perhaps he died during the wedding, but if he's alive, why would the Lannisters execute him?"

"The Seven Kingdoms frown upon men who break the guest right. The Lannisters needed to push the betrayal on someone. Lord Bolton was marked as conspiring with Walder Frey. He was promised Winterfell, apparently."

She would not pretend to be sad by the news. "I expect Walder Frey to have the same fate then." It would be a sad, dismal execution. The man was so old, but Cass would not weep over that body either.

"You already killed Walder Frey, my lady." Dondarrion said, filled with respect.

Cass nearly choked on air alone. I what? "Walder Frey is dead?" No one saw it fit to tell me that either.

"Bled out from a head wound, the way I've heard it. From hitting the floor." Beric chuckled. "I saw what you did. That takes daring that not many men have, my lady."

I wanted him dead and now he is, yet I do not feel bad about it. Lord Frey's fate was his own. She did not feel empowered, nor did she feel weak or regretful. The thought was cold, but she knew Dondarrion was thinking it too. "I cannot say he did not deserve it."

"Too true. There will need to be a new lord of the Twins. I wonder who the Lannisters will put in Frey's place."

Cass nodded. "There needs to be another Lord of the Dreadfort too. I hope Ned picks a good man."

Beric then asked, "And a Lord of Storm's End, I think, too."

"No." She smiled. "There will be no Lord of Storm's End until I marry."

Lord Beric was leading her to Robb's room, which shocked her with the fact that it was an actual room and not a cell. She stared at the red cloaked guards by the door, and they slowly moved away before she could even speak. They were respectful, yes, but she saw the threat there, and understood why Beric was accompanying her.

"They didn't put him in a cell?"

Dondarrion hesitated. "He would have died in a cell."

Cass nodded and told him to stay outside.

The room was dark, and for a moment she thought Robb would be sleeping. But at the sight of Grey Wind's head lifting up, blood still in his coat, Cass knew he was awake and alive. Her breathing settled, and she slipped the wolf ring into her skirts' pocket.

She could see him nod in the dim lighting, the man barely upright in his bed. There were bowls of medicine by his side and an unlit candle. Cass went to his bedside and moved to light the candle with her left hand.

"Don't."

Robb's weak voice made her recoil and stiffen. It sounded dry and cracking. Cass reached again. "I want to see your face." I want to see that you lived through that massacre and the Lannister men hovering over you. "Robb…I was so worried. I didn't understand." But Robb was shaking his head so she stopped.

"I know." He breathed, exhausted sounding. "I don't really know what to say."

"You don't need to talk." She tried to find his fingers in the dark, but instead felt the bandages on his chest. Her hands felt his sweltering skin, the slick sweat and open pores, before finding his big hand in her own. "I'm so sorry about all of this. Your men…your marriage. Lord Frey is dead but I'm sure you knew that." She shook her head. I killed him for you, didn't I? The thought had her biting her lip. "Sometimes I forget what we're all fighting for. And when I remember…" She forced herself to laugh. "It seems like such a little thing…such a stupid, silly thing compared to what we are losing."

"I am only alive because of you…aren't I?"

Yes. "You are alive because of Ser Jaime."

Robb coughed, his hand feeling weak in her own. "He came to save you."

"But he saved you all the same." She felt like crying again, but she didn't. Cass would stay strong for him. "He took Riverrun, Robb. I'm sorry."

"You apologize as if he were of your own blood. You are not responsible for him, Cass."

She felt as though she were. Cass wanted to tell him that he was going to the Red Keep, that Jaime was sending him away, but the thought made her shiver and remember her nightmares.

It was like Robb was reading her mind when he said, "Balon Greyoy is dead."

Cass dropped his hand. Her eyes were adjusting to the dark and she could finally make out the Young Wolf's face. "What? How? When?"

"He fell into the sea, and not too long ago. My captains told me when I woke…as well as Lord Frey." Robb nearly smiled. "That was dangerous, Cass."

"It had to happen." One king dead but there are three graves. Cass touched Robb's cheek. It was too warm. "You won't die, Robb. I wouldn't let you die before, and I won't let you die now. Do you understand?"

"I know I'm a prisoner, Cass."

Cassana ignored him. "Your men need you and so does Edmure. And your father. Robb…I need you too. I need your help to end this."

He did not seem to be listening either. "And I know the Kingslayer will let you go. He'll let you go North to your brother and all of mine. You can…you can look out for them for me."

The words wrenched her chest and Cass sat on the edge of his bed. "Don't move…"

But he was already. Robb groaned as he shifted, and Cass smiled at his stubbornness and set her head on the pillow beside him. It was wet from his own sweat, but she didn't care. She turned her head to face him in the dark as he stared on upwards. "I've never been in love, Cass."

That threw her off, but Cass did not move. She waited as he breathed; watching his chest rise and fall, crash as he exhaled.

"But I…I understand it. I…Jaime would die for you, wouldn't he?"

"Yes." Cass admitted. "He's nearly succeeded multiple times."

"He loves you."

"I know that."

Robb swallowed. "I could not have offered you that."

She knew that too. Robb was good, perfect in many ways. He was attracted to her, but he did not love her—not yet. The topic made her nervous and she tried to break the tension. "Perhaps it is inappropriate that I be with a married man like this."

Robb chuckled and then coughed at the force. "Safe to say that marriage is annulled."

Cass smiled again. "We would have been good, Robb, if we were given the chance." She pushed his bangs back from his sticky forehead. "If this war never came…"

"You would be the Lady fo Winterfell." He smiled. "I think that's all I ever wanted. I just want that keep, Cass. I…I just want to go home, marry a girl of my choosing, and name my children Eddard and Catelyn."

"You will, Robb." She was sure of it. Cass moved and kissed him on the head. "You will marry a girl with dark hair and who knows of the old gods. You will stand in the weirwood and she will have blue roses in her hair." Tears were falling from her eyes. She could see him rotting in a cell as she spoke. "You will have so many sons and daughters that you will have to marry them off to every major house, and they will all be beautiful and strong. They will be knights and lords and ladies and you…" The tears were rolling now. "You will know what love is."

"Tell me." Robb turned his head to look at her. "What is it like?"

She swallowed as he stared at her. Cass exhaled, chest heavy, and fingered the metal ring in her pocket. "It's terrifying."

The manacles were on his wrists as soon as he could stand again. Robb Stark held his head high, eyes never falling as the metal weighed him down and the red cloaked men pushed his back. Where's Grey Wind? Her eyes searched for the direwolf, but she saw him no where. He had been by Robb's bedside, allowed to live for now, but Robb knew that wouldn't last. Cass remembered Arya's wolf also disappearing in a similar fashion. I hope he's with his brothers and sisters.

She had her own jailors behind her, hands on her shoulders. Jame was in front of her. The caravans were being loaded and they were all preparing to head out of Riverrun. Cass called the knight from behind. "You took his sword, Jaime. Are the chains necessary?"

"I'm only returning the favor." Jaime didn't turn around. He gestured for his men to put Robb into the back of one of the barred carts. "His mother put up more of a fight."

"And the rest of his men?" Cass swallowed. The Lannister guard's grip on her shoulders tightened. "How many of them died at the wedding and how many of them did you see killed yourself?"

"I've killed many of his men myself. Some you've probably talked to. Some you may have even liked." He was about to walk away, but Jaime stopped himself and turned around. "His personal guard was butchered before I could get there, and the rest of the pups are running back home to Winterfell. Lord Umber and Karstark are staying here along with Edmure Tully."

"And who is watching them while the lion is away?"

"A mountain." He eyed her. "Your hands are bound."

She lifted her own shackled wrists. The guards had placed them on her this morning, though it was the first time she had been chained even though her men had left days ago. "I'm a prisoner. What did you expect?"

"My lord, Ser Jaime." One of the men holding her said. He looked young, younger than she was and Robb, with dirty blond hair and bad acne. "Lady Cassana Baratheon attacked Walder Frey. She knows martial combat."

She grinned at Jaime. "He's right, ser. I need to be in chains, especially while traveling with all these men."

Her words had the desired affect on Jaime. He paled and pointed to the chains immediately. "Take them off."

The guard shuffled his feet. "My lord?"

The Kingslayer grabbed the guard by the front of his tunic and hissed. "I would not question my lord's commands if I were you and if he were me. Get the keys and take those damn chains off."

Cass held out her arms as her guard stumbled for the keys on his belt. She smirked at Jaime. "A wise decision, my lord."

"Be quiet, Cass."

"I wonder if you trust the men who are watching me as well. Maybe you are best watching me." She rubbed her wrists. Those chains had hurt. "I see the looks they…"

"I trust my own men." Jaime gave the Lannister guards a stern stare. "See Lady Cassana to her cage." He had his own horse brought to him, and Jaime mounted and trotted to the head of his army.

Cass tried to mimic Robb. She kept her head high, her back straight and chest out. The men were staring at her, but the looks softened as the Lannister guards grabbed the hilts of their swoards. The young blond guard answered Cass' thoughts. "Ser Jaime said that if any man laid a hand on you, they would lose that hand." He swallowed. "And if they tried to…if they...well, he'd cut that off too."

How sweet. Cass saw the cart that would be her traveling cell. "And no one will touch Lady Catelyn either, yes?"

The man opened her cell door. Catelyn Stark sat on the bench, her hands bound by tight rope. The Lannister man gave her a small push inside. "I'm sure you can protect her from that."

There were scars on Catelyn's hands, and she looked too pale. Cass sat next to her on the bench and hugged her, and Cat held on to her. Her grip was vicelike, but Cass didn't mind. She had not seen Catelyn Stark since the wedding, since she saw her screaming with blood on her skirts. She was still bloodied, but there was a smile on her lips as she held Cassana in her arms. "Thank you."

"I did nothing." She held on to Catelyn's hands. "I have done nothing."

"My husband would be dead without you and my son…"

"Jaime saved him." The Starks didn't seem to be acknowledging that. "Jaime brought my men in. He stopped Roose Bolton from taking Robb's head."

Catelyn leaned back on the harsh seat. The cart started moving under the shouts of the Lannister men. "And now we are to King's Landing because of him."

I could not make her love him no more than I could make Robert love a Targaryen. Not that she ever tried to convince her brother of anything like that, but she saw Catelyn's hatred. They had threatened her family and she would never take that lightly. "Hate him if you want, my lady, but you owe him your life. I told you he was going to help me end this war, and he intends to keep his word." Cass stood up and started to pace. She almost fell multiple times as they went over the bumps in the road. "He will sell me to my brother and you and Robb to your husband for allegiance to Joffrey's seat."

"And your brother will give up his crown?"

I don't know. "Yes."

Catelyn rubbed at her eyes. "I am as tired of war as you are, Cassana. But the Lannisters need to be brought to justice for what they have done to my family."

The words scared her, made her think that maybe Ned would think the same as his wife. And even though she was happy to see Catelyn, she couldn't help but feel incredibly mad. This could all be over but you are worried about justice? Justice was a nice idea. Justice was good and well meant, but it did not stop men from dying. It would not bring back her brothers and may only result in her losing another. "Justice is not what saved your husband's life, my lady, and it won't save yours or Robb's."

Cassana didn't feel like talking anymore, but she did move back next to Lady Catelyn and untied the ropes from her hands. As much as Catelyn would hate to hear it, Jaime and she were similar in Cass' eyes. They were rash, would die for their family, and were too stubburn to bow or curtsy out. Cassana didn't have that strength. She could not stomach so much death if there was an easier way about things.

Robert could have. Robert enjoyed the hard and bloody way.

His rebellion had proved that to her. Cassana wished she could hold justice above all else. She wished she could have been brave enough to stab the Mad King like Jaime or start a war to rescue his love like Robert did. He wanted justice.

But she wondered if Viserys and that girl…Daenerys thought the same. She wondered if they wanted justice too and what justice exactly was. Everyone had loved Rhaegar. Cass had been taught differently, but even Jaime said he was a man to be admired. He was no Aerys. He was a knight and a prince with a wife and no need to go and rape noblewoman.

Why am I thinking of this?

Lyanna Stark and Rhaeger Targaryen were no more than dust and bones. She had to worry about Stannis and Robb and herself—not some past song.

People called Robert the usurper. They are calling Joff that too and probably whatever king follows him.

She sat next to Catelyn again, remembering Beric and his hesitance going North. "Your men loved Robb."

Catelyn didn't say anything. She looked at the scars on her hands, raised and red and almost raw.

Cass continued. "I remember as I sat in his camps, they would shout for him. They'd scream King in the North until their throats were dry and worn."

"That is right, Cassana."

Cassana Baratheon…. She laughed grimly. "People will never shout my brother's name like that. Or Joffrey's. Robb was more a king than either of them." She was scaring herself. She thought of the red woman, the fire and shadow, and she knew Catelyn was thinking of it too. Catelyn was remembering the darkness that killed Renly—the fiend Melisandre had summoned.

Who will sit there if he wins? Who will wear the crown?

She did not want to believe the answers her mind came up with. But as she thought about how terrible it would be for Joff to wear the crown, she thought of it on Melisandre's head. Cassana closed her eyes, the realization horrifying to her.

I can't let Stannis win this war, can I?

A/N:

Thanks for reading and let me know what you guys think! Until next week...