A/N:

Going through withdrawal. Hopefully this satisfies your fix until 2019 or The Winds of Winter is released. Wonder which will happen first?

Thanks a ton to all my readers and followers! Always awesome. I feel so loved.

Special thanks to my reviewers :):
Laura201112 (Thank you! I will try to maintain quality and also will work on quicker posting...), MihHale (Like dragon-fire or job-fired?), Pitspee (Ah! Thank you so much for liking Cass! I've thought a lot about her choices and what makes sense. And this fic IS called The Crowned Stag...but we shall see! As cheesy as this sounds, this fic is writing itself and all of my planning gets thrown out the window. Fun fact: Was never really considering Jaime as a serious love interest when I wrote the first couple of chapters.), hairymayojar (I'm glad you liked the pacing with the flashback too! Flashbacks are surprising fun and also gives me an opportunity to write dead characters :) I seriously could see a one-shot of this Robb/Tyrion bromance. May need to get that out...), Nirvana14 (I hope they become friends!), Courtenae727 (Glad you're liking Cass and didn;t find her TOO strong. Oh the fine line of writing a strong character but not a Mary Sue. And Jaime should be fine. He will be I hope. Oh wait, I control this), Guest (I have rewatched Jaime leaving Cersei like 5 times already. Still not as great as the image of him burning a letter begging for him to help her, but I'll settle), Barryium (Poor Robb. You're right. He's been sort of a rag doll recently. But not for long! And I agree about the Night King. It's just not as interesting to me as real people trying to figure out the best way to one-up each other!), anelle25 (Thank you! And they are certainly something crazy...), meagsnicole (Oh wow! Thank you! i hope you are shaking with happiness and glad you like Cass so much!), and Starsmoak (Thanks for the multiple reviews! Glad you could catch up! Hope the love triangle still isn't dragging you down!).

This is more setup. So much setup! Forgive me!

She thought she was being led to her death. Robb Stark and Tyrion Lannister were left in the throne room as the mother of dragons gripped her hand, guided her through the hallway and down levels of steps. It would have felt nice, almost sisterly, if Daenerys' grip wasn't oddly warm and tight, if with every step down they took, she couldn't hear the shrieks and cries of something otherworldly.

They'll eat me. They'll burn me alive. But still a part of her didn't even think they were real. She had seen the skeletons in the Red Keep, the skulls as big as carriages glaring at her with dead eyes, but those were just bones. Those were only things of myths. Dead and buried. But still she followed.

The echoes and shrill wails only increased when they entered the arched cavern. It was dark, damp and musty, and Cassana couldn't help but think of the Red Keep again. She wondered what Daenerys would say if she knew Robert kept dragons in his basement too. "Viserion, Rhaegal."

They were the size of bears, only seeming larger with wings spread out as much as they could in the narrow cavern. Their bodies were covered in scales glistening like jewels in the firelight with long claws and rows of arrow-sharp teeth. They were magnificent, beautiful, deadly. Cassana wanted to run.

It was difficult to find her breath, remember she could breathe as the dragons walked forward, tails slashing, anxious at the sight of their mother. Cass felt her mouth become dry. It had hung open for too long. "I…" They shrieked as she spoke and took a step towards them both. Cass swallowed. "I thought you had three."

The light smile from Daenerys' face faded. "I do. You're not afraid of them?"

She was terrified. She had never seen anything like them, and even though she had some dragon blood in her bones, they still seemed like beasts. But Cass knew that was entirely the wrong answer. "They're incredible."

Daenerys dropped Cass' hand and walked forward, gingerly petting the dragons as if they were small cats. Cassana remained frozen, attempting to hide the fact that she was completely in awe. This was a game. Cassana was very familiar with it, and she straightened. "How long until they are full grown?"

"Not much longer."

"Will they grow more if you keep them here?" Cass didn't hold back, didn't flinch when Daenerys turned. "You call them your children but you are caging them. Why?"

The queen didn't answer. Instead, she walked passed Cassana and back towards the stairs, silent. Cassana immediately followed after. She didn't know if the only thing preventing the dragons from attacking her was their mother. Halfway up the stairs, Daenerys turned back around, eyes flaming. "How old are you?"

That was not the question Cassana was expecting. If anything, she expected the woman to verbally rip her to bits. "Eighteen." Cass bit her lip. "I…actually I think I'm older now. Gods. I don't even know what day it is."

Her confusion didn't seem to bother the Targaryen. "Nineteen then?"

"Nineteen then." She inhaled. She had missed her own nameday.

"And never married?"

"No."

"I wonder why."

"Believe it or not, my brother was rather protective." Cass picked up her skirts, almost tripping on the stairs. She was jealous of Daenerys in her soft, shorter dress—all light and grace and most of all cool. She was suddenly looking forward to winter. "I would prefer not to talk about my brother in front of you."

"You would?" The dragon queen pushed the door open and Cass was blinded by the sunlight. "And here I was drawing a comparison with me and the usurper—protective of the ones we love. Was he similar with his own children as he was with you?"

No. "He had no legitimate children. Surely you know that."

"And you admit it easily."

"I love them though." She blinked Daenerys' arm was wrapped in hers again, and Cass couldn't understand what she was doing. This woman was being too familiar, too trusting. It would have reminded her of Ned Stark if she actually believed it. They were heading back into the throne room, and Cass stopped dead, dragging Daenerys back and into a halt. "We have to talk."

The queen smiled. "That is precisely why…"

"Not like this." She shook her head. "I grew up in the Red Keep, yes. I grew with people like Cersei Lannister and Petyr Baelish, but I also ran from them. I understand that you're powerful." She gestured to the basement door. "I understand that with a snap of your fingers you could have my head on a spike. You don't have to show me your dragons alone or act like this."

The smile faded. Daenerys' eyes became cutting. "Varys says you are to prepare me for the game of the Westerosi lords. What good are you to me if you do not play along?"

"I thought I explained this." She pulled her arm away. "I do not like games, no matter if I am perceived as good at them or not. I can show you the rules or I can prepare you to understand them enough."

"Enough for what?"

"To break them," Cass said simply. "Unless I've misjudged you."

The smile was back, smaller this time and infinitely warmer. Daenerys once again held out a hand. "I would like for us to talk about our families, Lady Cassana. I think for my whole life I was preached one side of history and I expect it was the same for you. Help me be the ruler my father was not."

She took her hand, feeling her shoulders straighten, her chest turned upwards and tight. Can you be? Meereen was in chaos, disarray. She had banished one of her most loyal knights, locked her children in her basement. But Daenerys' sentence rang true. She could help her. She could influence her—not control or manipulate, but advise and counsel. "What would they say?" Cass looked at their joined fingers. "A stag and a dragon as allies?"

"Let the maesters worry about the writing. I have a war to win."

It was much cooler at night. The sun had left and with it the dry heat of Meereen settled into an arid frost. Cassana was given her own room towards the top of the pyramid. She had bathed for over two hours, brushed her hair for another hour, and looked herself over. She looked burned and thin. She looked haggard, exhausted but she had never felt so powerful in her entire life. There was a white robe left on her feather bed and she wrapped it around her nightgown as she opened the doors to the balcony. Meereen was beautiful. The stars were perfectly visible, the moon half-hiding behind the night sky. And in a sharp cut of blood-red was the comet, its tail long and fading into black. There was a knock on the door, but Cass felt no urgency to move from the spot on the balcony. "You can come in."

She turned when she heard the steps were harsher and heavier and that there were two pairs of feet. "Robb." Cass smiled and walked away from the balcony, stopping and immediately curtsying when she noticed the knight beside him. "Ser Barristan. I…I haven't seen you since…"

"I was replaced by a dog? No… before that. After your, brother." The knight grabbed her hand and bowed. "My sincerest apologies, my lady, that I did not protect him."

"Please rise, ser." Cass swallowed. That was still a painful day. Barristan Selmy reminded her of years past, and she did not want to get wrapped in that again. "You are a true knight. I know that. As a member of the Kingsguard, you are tied to your oath, but never let that one moment blemish who you are." She thought of Jaime but shut the thought out. "Or should I say Queensguard now?"

"Aye. That is true. I cannot describe how glad I was to hear that you have taken your banners to Queen Daenerys' cause. There were rumors Lord Tywin would have you wed Jaime Lannister."

"Perhaps she still would have if she was also not accused for killing Joffrey Baratheon." Robb was clean shaven and covered in a light oil. He turned back to the knight. "Thank you for escorting me to her, ser. And if I could just…"

Selmy nodded. "I can still take cues, my lord. There is a council meeting tomorrow. I will see you both then."

Robb clearly looked surprised that they would be able to attend such a gathering. They had been in Meereen for less than twenty-four hours and they were granted that permission. He was skeptical. He had every reason to be. Cass, though, was tired of politics. "You can't sleep either?"

"The sun set as soon as I felt most awake." Robb crossed his arms and walked closer. "We must be on the other side of the world."

"I'm drowning in sweat here. I cannot imagine how you are faring."

"I feel like I've been thrown into fire a hundred times over. This…plant oil is supposed to help."

"Is that why your face is shining?" She reached to touch his cheek and felt the slick, cool oil. Robb flinched back in pain. "Sorry."

"Remind me to stay indoors."

"I can find you a veil. That always helped me on the particularly hot days in King's Landing."

He smiled but didn't answer. Robb Stark was focused on the balcony and the dark night above. Cass followed him outside and watched him point upwards. "It looks stronger here. More…"

"Red?" Cass offered.

Robb nodded. "Old Nan told us it meant dragons."

"She sounds like a smart lady." Her fingers curved over the bar. "Daenerys seems trustworthy, Robb. I don't want to give her any blind faith, but I know Barristan. He is the epitome of honor. He would not follow a despot."

"That's not why I'm here."

"Wha-what?"

Robb sighed. "It should be, shouldn't it? We should be discussing or next move and the queen in front of us and what it means for Westeros and our families."

"Or we should be sleeping." She felt a surge of energy. "You're right. It truly is the other side of the world." Her grip on the railing was too tight as she turned to look at him. The age and wear on his face was slowly passing, and despite the redness in his cheeks, he was beginning to remind her of the young boy in Winterfell again. It seemed like decades ago. "I'm sorry I lost your ring."

"Cass…"

"It must have been when they took us…I'm not sure which time. I'm not…"

"It doesn't matter. None of that matters now." He stretched against the railing, the light linen of his shirt blowing in a sudden gust of wind. "Though it was a nice ring."

She laughed at him, her chest hurting as the laugh deepened even more. Cass felt light. They were alive. They were in a city that was maybe in turmoil, but they weren't in a black cell. They weren't awaiting execution. "Maybe the gods do exist."

"You doubted them?"

"Haven't you? This world makes you question it sometimes."

"And what makes you think they could be real again? That comet?"

She shook her head. Cass didn't know what made red comets appear or the sun rise or the moon fall. But it was an act of some god that her and Robb were here, next to each other and breathing. A god or a dumb Lannister? The lightness faded. "I'm just glad I'm here with you. Even on the other side of the world."

"That's what I came for. Cass, thank you." He grabbed her hands, skin to skin, and she felt the slim layer of sweat over his palms. I would have married him had things gone a little differently. She had no doubt about that. If Robert had lived. If Robb hadn't captured Jaime at the battle of the Whispering Wood. And though she had though that many times before, it upset her that she still thought of it, still wondered what it would have been like. "I'm still not completely certain Daenerys won't kill us but for now I'm alive and that's because of you. You've…saved me countless times and I don't know how to ever repay you."

She couldn't help the flush flow deep into her neck. "You don't have to. Robb, you forget the kindness you have served me. I…I did some horrible things to you." It was still difficult to think about. "I don't regret freeing Jaime Lannister but I do hate how I hurt you. You expected more from me."

"Less of you."

Her eyebrows quirked. "I'm sorry?"

He exhaled, and she could see his chest collapse through the thin linen of his shirt, the white skin practically glowing in the moonlight contrasted against the blotted red of his neck. "You're, um, not a passive person."

She caught her smile. "No, I'm not."

"It's an excellent quality." His tone lowered, and Cass found herself edging away from him, swallowing at their proximity. Robb noticed and stiffened. "Apologies. I'm disturbing your night."

"You're not." Cass shook her head and relaxed back. "We should talk though. There's rather important matters at hand. We need to talk about our alliance." She looked back up, surprised that Robb was looking back directly at her and not downwards, not shy or bashful, but daring. "With Daenerys."

He nodded. "Should we sit? Have some wine?"

"Yes and absolutely." She needed a glass after a day like today.

She was not ready to be awake this early. The dragon queen seemed to be an early riser, and normally Cass was too. But she had spent several hours discussing said dragon queen the night before and did not want to wake up to talk to her. Robb and her had not rested on a formal decision. Cassana, for all her impropriety, felt little guilt for giving cautious fealty now, but Robb was less malleable. He would not offer his support until he was certain, and that meant Cassana would have to withhold hers as well. Meereen, they had decided, would be a very good test. They would stay as envoys and observe the queen. They would see how she ruled here and then pass judgement. And Robb would tell her all of this, which Cassana was not too pleased about.

Cass had no clothes on hand. There had been a nightgown and robe left on the feather bed but other than that, there was nothing. She had opened the door to the wardrobe to reveal only wood, which had surprised her. The room she was given was big, grand. The balcony doors were high and arched. The walls were made of pristine sandstone, the oils well kept with oil. Cass' bare feet rubbed smoothly against the thick cotton rugs as she yawned and stretched towards the door. "My lady."

"Lady Missendei." Cassana curtsied. "I must look like a mess. Give me a moment. I can air out my silk dress and…"

"We have brought clothes for you, if it please you. Queen Daenerys requests that I accompany you for breakfast."

Three women then came in, one holding tiny sandals, another a small tub of fresh water, and the last holding a long pale blue dress. "Your queen is gracious."

Missendei bowed lightly. "I'll wait for you outside."

Cass yawned as she was washed and fussed over, only really grasping again where she was and what was going on when the blue dress was draped over her in elaborate bends and twists. It was much more comfortable than the more tight-fitting wardrobe of Westeros, and, to her extreme relief, much less heavy and warm. She met Missendei outside the door. The former slave was wringing her hands together, forehead tense. Cass placed a hand on her shoulder. "You speak the Common Tongue quite perfectly for someone, I imagine, not from Westeros."

"I am not." Missendei offered as they walked. "My mastery in languages is one way I can best serve my queen."

"And the others?"

"Guidance, advice. You'll find that Daenerys Targaryen is not like your Westerosi lords. She listens."

Cass bristled but maintained an even tone. "Have you met any Westerosi lords? I mean, besides Lord Tyrion and Lord Robb?"

Missendei paused. "Only a few."

"When we get to Westeros, I hope you do not pass judgement on them all based on those few. Some may surprise you."

"I reserve the courts of Westeros to be your expertise, Lady Cassana."

Cass could no argue that. She had no definitive idea what that role would mean, but if it meant any sort of clout, she would take it. She was brought to a long table outside, fabrics flowing from the open doors. The table was covered with exotic fruits and grains, and at the end of the table sat the queen, smiling beautifully at Robb Stark.

The Young Wolf stood as Cassana entered and walked the length of the table to grab her hand and escort her to the seat next to him. Varys was seated across from her and Jorah across from Robb. The old knight looked dour and too hot in the sun. "Good morning, Lady Cassana."

"Good morning." She sat as a servant pulled out her chair and poured her a glass of water. "How is tea in Essos? Terrible?"

"Strong." Robb gestured to his own cup. "But drinking hot tea in this heat leaves something to be desired."

Cassana tapped on her cup and a servant poured her the steaming liquid. "May as well try it while we are here." She eased back in her chair. "How long do you plan to stay in Meereen?"

Daenerys didn't hesitate. "Until it is in order." Her eyes perked at the sight of Tyrion walking and taking the seat next to Cass. "Now that my guests are here, I wish to explain the issue at hand. Robb Stark has expressed his concerns with my ambitions for Westeros."

Tyrion laid his hands flat on the table. "You must understand. The Starks are an untrusting lot. The North does not have many people. They are used to…"

"I understand completely." Daenerys gave a nod to Robb. "My father did horrendous things. He ruled with fear and anguish. You are the people of Westeros. You came here looking for a ruler who you think is better, and if I cannot prove that to you, then I have failed." She patted her lips delicately with a napkin. "I only ask that you help me understand my failings and give me time to approve upon them."

Varys grabbed what looked like a fig and placed it on his plate. "A reasonable gesture, your grace."

"And if you decide to turn tail and look for another queen…" Her purple eyes fell to Cassana. "I ask that you tell only me and leave my city immediately. You will have one horse and no other supplies. You will have no men to accompany you and one map."

Cass blew on her tea before taking a sip. It was bitter and too, too hot. She pursed her lips and set down the cup. "At least we will have our heads and for that it is a better offer than the Lannisters." She coughed when Tyrion gave her a look. "Other Lannisters. Cersei and Tywin specifically."

"You're suggesting King Tommen is no threat?"

Cass stifled her laugh though Tyrion was the one to answer. "We still consider King Tommen a Baratheon."

Daenerys raised an eyebrow but did not argue the point. "And what about the Kingslayer?"

Cass almost burned her tongue on the tea. She spat at the liquid and stretched for a cup of water. Her face became hot, embarrassed as she saw all eyes at the long table and the surrounding servants look at her gasp and fan herself. Robb moved his hand over hers and spoke, "He was the one who brought us here, your grace."

"He was also the one who killed my father. That is something I cannot simply ignore."

If her tongue hadn't been singed, Cass would have said something about who her father actually was, what he was about to do and why Jaime had done it. She would say it too boldly, too passionately, which would have raised even more suspicion and mistrust than the initial alliance of her and Tyrion on this side of the world. Luckily, she did not speak, but Tyrion did. "We have more urgent matters at hand than my brother."

And then, as if Tyrion had arranged for it himself, the soldier Grey Worm sped in, forgetting all formality until he was at Daenerys feet. He was sweating, armor dirty, face marked with grime. His voice was rush as he spoke. "There was another attack, my queen. Three of my men are dead all because…"

Ser Jorah interrupted. "We have guests. Surely this conversation…"

"No." Daenerys offered Grey Worm a seat. "They should know what they are in for. Tell me, Lords and Lady of Westeros, how would you handle a band of murderers who hide their face?"

"That is something we are weirdly familiar with." Tyrion raised a cup to Cass. "Though if they do not pretend to be our friends with their faces unhidden, the situation is drastically different."

"You find out what they want," Cassana answered easily.

"And what if I know what they want?" Daenerys seemed to like this game. She leaned forward in her seat, intrigued. "What if I know and cannot give it to them?"

Cass played along. "Why can't you?"

"It's morally repugnant."

"To you only, I assume. To them it is not…nothing is when you are raised in it. My brother would have found me marrying a blacksmith morally repugnant but only because that was how we were both raised."

"It's slavery." Robb dropped his fork. "Daenerys was explaining the situation earlier to me. She abolished slavery and that is why the city is in uprising."

Odd. Cass didn't know when Robb had time to speak to Daenerys on such a topic or why the queen felt comfortable relaying that information so easily. She did not, however, had time to ponder the thought as the table looked to her for another quest Iion or piece of advice. She found herself lost. "…a complicated issue that assuredly gained you many enemies. Why is slavery morally abhorred in Westeros and not Essos?"

Varys was the one who answered. "The Faith of the Seven strictly prohibits such an action."

"And only the Faith of the Seven does?"

Varys agreed. "So far yes."

Cassana took another sip of the cooling tea. This time the liquid soothed her throat, filled her with a blooming fire. She set the fine porcelain down and looked to Tyrion. The dwarf grinned, "Religion is always up for interpretation."

A/N:

Thanks for reading :) I am taking a relaxing long weekend which hopefully means more writing!