Chapter 2

Ana traversed through the Palace, knowing if she returned to her chambers, her mother would know and arrive to interrogate her. She knocked on the wooden door to the chambers of another Uncle of hers - Renly Baratheon.

However, it was Loras Tyrell, Renly's squire and best friend (and lover, Ana suspected); who answered the door. "Your Highness," Loras greeted, coolly. He knew of her suspicions and acted a little cooler towards her as result – most of the time, that is.

"I have news! Is Renly here?" She asked eagerly. Her warm smile and excitement cracked Loras' icy manner. He smiled, finally, and let her in.

"Renly! Ana is here!" Loras called, offering the girl his arm. "I do hope it's good news, though your sunny disposition leaves me little doubt," Loras said quietly, leading Ana to the couches in the small receiving room Renly boasted.

"It is," Ana confirmed, sinking into a plush seat as Renly emerged from his bed chamber, grinning at his niece. He came forward, kissing her on each cheek, before settling beside her.

"She has news," Loras informed him with a fond smile. Instead of joining them on a couch, Loras remained standing.

"Oh, wonderful! Tell me everything," Renly prodded Ana, before lounging back against the arm of the couch. Renly had long been Ana's confidante, and one of her favorite family members. He acted more as a friend than an uncle to her. He was excellent at keeping secrets, as he boasted quite a few of his own. Not that Ana really had any inflammatory secrets to boast of herself…

"Before I begin, promise me you'll tell no-one. It must remain secret until this evening," Ana requested excitedly.

Renly considered her for a long moment. "Alright. You have my word, you've caught my interest," Renly assured her, and his niece smiled brightly. "You too, Loras," Renly remarked.

Loras rolled his eyes. "I thought my silence was implied," he informed them with a scoff. Ana giggled at him until he cracked a smile.

"I'm to be married," She told them.

Loras and Renly traded surprised looks. "To who?" Renly demanded, drawing another giggle from Ana.

"It must be someone she likes. Otherwise she wouldn't look so pleased," Loras interjected, smirking at her.

"It's Robb Stark," Ana told them, before Renly could guess. She knew he would, and he would probably be right, too.

Renly began to laugh at once. "Do you remember, Loras, when the Starks came to King's Landing four years ago?" Renly asked, slapping his knee.

"I don't, I must have been in Highgarden," Loras replied, his expression quizzical - prompting Renly to explain.

"Well, Ana was twelve, and Robb sixteen…" Renly began. Ana groaned, hiding her reddening face behind her hands. "Ana followed him around for his whole stay, like a love-sick puppy." Renly explained, patting his niece's shoulder to comfort her in her embarrassment. Loras just gave her an amused look.

"He was just so kind, so handsome…" Ana explained with another dramatic groan.

"And why are we keeping this secret?" Loras questioned, reaching to ruffle her hair. Ana dodged his hand with a laugh.

"Da wants to announce it at dinner. Mother can't know until then," Ana explained, making the two men laugh.

"Cersei's going to lose her mind," Renly said with a grin.

"Wish I could see that," Loras added wistfully.

"Oh, couldn't you come, Loras? Renly has express invitation as family, but you are one of my dearest friends," Ana remarked with a pout.

"Robert won't refuse her," Renly said.

"He really can't," Ana added, looking pleadingly at Loras. "Just go with Renly. My father won't turn you away," she suggested.

"I would be humiliated before the whole Royal family if I was," Loras retorted to that, giving Ana a hard look.

Ana got to her feet, and moved around the couch to pull Loras into a friendly hug. "Dear friend; dear, dear friend, Loras. I won't let them humiliate you, I'm inviting you to witness the announcement of my marriage, remember? Please, Loras," Ana begged, holding onto her friend as his body went from tense to relaxed.

Loras flashed a furtive look to Renly. "I don't see how you can refuse that," Renly advised his squire, waving a hand in nonchalance.

Loras' shoulders slumped. "Fine. If only for the reason of seeing our proud Cersei quite humiliated,"

Ana cheered, before planting a kiss on Loras' clean-shaven cheek. "You, Loras, are my favorite friend! And you, Renly, are my favorite Uncle," She cooed, moving to kiss her Uncle's cheek as well.

"You tell everyone that," Renly said dryly.

Ana laughed, ruffling Renly's carefully coiffed hair. "I have no idea what you're talking about," the Princess teased, making both men laugh.

xxOITFxx

Ana glided into the Feast Hall in the wing of apartments belonging solely to the Royal family. Cersei, Jaime, and her siblings; Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen were already there. Jaime and Cersei talked idly before noticing her presence.

Jaime winked at his niece, while his sister straightened in her seat. "Cassana, sweeting!" Cersei called to her daughter. Cassana hated when her mother called her by pet-names, since she only bothered when she wanted something. "What news?" Cersei asked, with a sort of breathless anticipation.

"Didn't Da tell you already?" Ana deflected, taking a seat opposite Cersei, at the right of her father's place at the head of the table.

"You know very well he didn't, Cassana," Cersei retorted sourly. Her gaze narrowed, readying herself to demand the information she wanted.

But fortunately for Ana, Robert Baratheon swept in at that moment, ruffling Ana's hair as he passed, sinking into his place of honor at the head of the table. Cersei's glare immediately shifted from her daughter to her husband. It was good to know that Cersei hated her husband more than her daughter. "Good news tonight," Robert told his family, immediately reaching for the wine.

"Patience, Da," Ana said, with a mischievous smile. "Not everyone has arrived yet," She added quieter. Robert gave her a questioning look, but Ana merely shook her head, and her father accepted it with a grin.

Cersei watched father and daughter distrustfully, until a noise at the door drew her attention. "Loras Tyrell," Cersei remarked in surprise. "What ever are you doing here?" she questioned.

"I was invited to dinner, your Majesty," Loras answered, looking deeply uncomfortable.

"Oh? By who?" Cersei asked, glancing around the room.

"By me," Ana spoke, standing. "Come sit beside me, Loras," she beckoned to him. Loras smirked, making his way to sit next to her.

"This is a family dinner. Who gave you permission to invite him?" Cersei argued. Ana rolled her eyes, looking directly to her right, to her father.

"I did," Robert said, going along with her. As usual. "It is Cassana's good news, I gave her permission," he supplemented. It was during the tense silence that Renly came in, fashionably late, as always. He sat on Loras' other side.

"Shall I make an announcement, now that everyone is here?" Robert asked, directing a questioning glance at Ana. She nodded.

"As most of you know, I have been deliberating on finding Ana a husband for some time. Today, I have come to an agreement and a decision," Robert began, dragging the announcement out. Cersei could be seen looking incredibly impatient. "Cassana shall be wed to Robb Stark." Robert announced.

All eyes had zeroed in on Cersei for the awaited reaction. Ana's mother had gone pale. All the blood had drained from her face, her jaw slack, and her cold, emerald eyes were full of shock. Then, after a few moments, she composed herself, and a fury entered those eyes. Cersei stood, placing her hands on the table. "No," she said, quite calmly. "This is unacceptable," she insisted. Her twin looked quite amused, while Ana's younger siblings looked a little frightened. Joffrey merely seemed bored.

"It's done, Cersei. We leave in five days for Winterfell," Robert replied, dismissively.

"No!" Cersei repeated, more strongly. "You are not sending our daughter to the North! To marry a Stark, no less! She is a Lannister!" Cersei cried.

"She is a BARATHEON!" Robert roared, slamming his fist on the table, his face reddening in rage. "SHE IS MY DAUGHTER! AND MINE TO DECIDE FOR! NOT YOURS, CERSEI! I WILL NOT HAVE YOU SLANDER THE STARKS!"

"Robert, please!" Cersei pleaded, tearfully.

"I WILL NOT HAVE IT!" Robert shouted. Cersei fled the room without another room.

Ana immediately felt guilty. "Too much, Da," she remarked, standing and following after her mother.

Slowly, Ana walked to her mother's chambers, and knocked on the door. "Go away!" her mother cried.

"Mother, it's Ana. Can I come in?" Ana asked, only to hear silence. After a few moments, the door opened, to Cersei dabbing at her eyes. "Oh, Mother…" Ana murmured, wrapping her arms around her mother.

Cersei returned the embrace, crying on her daughter's shoulder. "Please, don't worry, Mother. I'll be fine," Ana tried to assure her.

"You don't know that," Cersei cried. "You'll be leagues away from us, Cassana. Won't you be unhappy? Aren't you scared?" she questioned.

Ana led her mother to a couch, both settling upon it. "A little, I guess. But I have only left King's Landing to visit Grandfather in Lannisport. I look at this as an adventure," Ana answered, honestly.

"But the Starks, Cassana! They're barbarians!" Cersei complained, gripping Ana's shoulders.

Ana shook her head. "No, Mother. I know Robb. He's kind,"

"Men change, Cassana," Cersei warned. "You knew him years ago. He was still a boy. He may not be so kind anymore," she continued.

"Mother, please," Ana pleaded. There was no need to put fear in her mind.

"Cassana, if it were up to me, I would keep you at my side, forever. But I can't. But I can impart words of wisdom… Listen, please,"

Author's Note: Please review! Hold on, this does not quite kick off until the third chapter!