Chapter 5
At the feast, Cassana did her best to keep the peace between her family and the family of her betrothed. Sitting between Cersei and Catelyn did not make it easy. Catelyn Stark tried, that must be acknowledged. But Cersei all but rebuffed every attempt at conversation. Cassana snapped back to attention as Catelyn tried again.
"-It will be a beautiful wedding. I've had workers cleaning up every corner of the Godswood to make it presentable for a royal wedding. The branches are strung with gray and yellow ribbon, the color of both houses, you see-"
"But not Lannister." Cersei interrupted, not even bothering to look at Lady Stark.
Abruptly silenced, Catelyn flashed Cassana a bewildered look. It had been thoughtful enough that she had thought to include Cassana's house color, but to include her mother's, too? "Mother," Ana said lowly, desperately.
Cersei graced her daughter with a glance, and her expression softened at the sight of Cassana's desperate expression. Catelyn noticed but quickly hid her surprise. Cersei sighed, reaching out and patting her daughter's hand. "It sounds lovely. No doubt Robert will appreciate the gesture," she remarked politely.
Catelyn smiled wryly. "I wanted it to be special, for our children," she replied. She leaned forward, smile turning coquettishly. "Everything we never had," Catelyn added playfully. A risky remark, Ana thought. Something changed in Cersei's eyes.
"Ana, join your siblings at the lower table. I should like to talk to Catelyn," Cersei ordered, expression tense. Cassana stood and walked down the three steps that separated their dais from the lower one. Robb immediately made room for her at his side, and she gladly sat beside him.
Robb gestured to a lean, dark youth to his right. "Ana, this is Theon, a ward of Winterfell and my good friend. Theon, this is her highness, Princess Cassana Baratheon," he introduced.
"Actually, I prefer Cassana," she said amicably, offering her hand to Theon.
He took it and pressed a kiss to the back of it. "Your highness, a pleasure," Theon said. Cassana had instant chills. She returned a polite smile and took her hand back as soon as possible. Robb frowned – from what he had seen of Ana, her reaction was unusual.
Robb quickly changed the subject – he would ask her about it later. "How are our mothers getting along?" he asked curiously.
Cassana grimaced. "Your mother's trying. My mother… is unhappy," she answered carefully.
"Why wouldn't she be?" Joffrey piped up from the other side of the table. Cassana flashed him a vicious glare. "Father's marrying you off to a barbarian on the other side of Westeros! How could she be happy?" he continued, face pinched with disgust.
"Shut up, Joff!" Ana shouted, standing from her place at Robb's side. Now everyone was looking at them – and the expression on her brother's face was smug, ever so pleased with himself.
Her father stood, clearly angry. "How dare you ruin this night for your sister, Joffrey!" he said, voice booming through the hall. Cersei stood, her expression similarly furious – but what was not clear was if her consternation was on Ana's behalf or Joffrey's. "To your chambers now!" Robert roared, gesturing towards the door, causing his young son to scurry out in terror.
Cersei gestured for a Septa to follow him, lips pressed into a firm line. Ana slowly sank back into her seat, flashing Robb an apologetic look. "Hear me now!" Robert intoned. All eyes went back to the king. "I will have no doubt on this subject – my daughter, the princess Cassana, will wed Lord Stark's son, Robb, for no reason other than friendship, loyalty and love that lives between myself and Lord Stark. It is because of my trust and love for the House of Stark that I have given them the precious gift of my daughter. I will hear no slander of them, not even from my own children. This is your only warning," Robert stated, eyes combing through each and every table in the feasting hall.
Cassana sank back into her seat, covering her face with her hands. Gods, she was so embarrassed. Why must Joffrey always do this to her? She could feel Robb's hand on her back, warm and comforting, as he softly said her name. "Ana, I'm sorry," he said.
She raised her head from her hands and looked at him in bewilderment. "Why would you be sorry, Robb? Did you do anything to cause this?" she asked. His brows pulled together as he slowly shook his head. "It's not your fault, Robb. It's them. My mother and Joffrey, they're determined to ruin this for us," Ana told him lowly.
"But it's because you're marrying me, Ana," Robb said, voice troubled. "Even if I do not mean to, it is I who am causing the dissent in your family," he continued.
Ana let out a noise of displeasure, taking Robb's hand. "I am happy to be your bride, Robb Stark. Are you not happy to be my husband?" she asked quietly.
"Of course I am happy that I will be your husband," he said quickly, brows dragging even further down.
Her breath whistled through her teeth. "Then why should anyone else have a say in the matter, Robb?" she questioned. Robb flashed her a strange look which told her he'd never considered the thought. "Your father and mine have decided that you and I are to wed. You and I are happy with this decision. Why let the few dissenters ruin this happy time for us?" Ana suggested.
Robb nodded, deep in thought. "You're right," he said decisively. He looked past Ana to their parents at the high table – King Robert was deep in his cups by now, his father Ned looking on in decided disapproval. Queen Cersei had retired, so his mother Catelyn had returned to Ned's side, seeming happier for it. "I want you to meet someone, my brother," Robb said suddenly.
Ana looked up in surprise. "The bastard? Jon?" she queried. At first Robb frowned, but he quickly realized there was no distaste in her tone, nothing that would tell him she thought Jon as less than her.
Robb nodded. "My father wished for him to be here, but my mother…" he trailed off, but Ana seemed to understand. She nodded, taking his hand as he stood. They left the feasting hall quietly, not wanting to draw too much attention since there was no chaperone.
Robb guided Cassana through the halls of Winterfell, and soon, out into the frigid air outside. Even though she had her heavy fur cloak over her shoulders, Ana soon began to shiver, unused to the cold weather of the North, unlike Robb. He noticed her shivering, and drew Ana closer to him, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She glanced up at him shyly, the blush on her cheeks visible even in the darkness of the night.
"I don't know if I will ever grow used to the cold," Ana declared as they headed for the stables, torches outside guiding their way.
Robb chuckled. "I suppose you will have to," he acknowledged. "But you will have me to keep you warm," he continued, laughing again when Ana's blush grew brighter.
"Stop teasing me, Robb Stark!" Ana insisted, fixing him with a fierce look. "You brought me out here to meet your brother, not flirt with me," she continued, gesturing for him to lead her ahead.
"As my princess commands," Robb teased lightly, leading her into the stables. There, at the other end of Winterfell's large stables, was a young man of age with Robb. "Jon!" he called out, and the other man turned to face them. Cassana regarded him carefully as he approached, a look of reluctant nervousness on his features.
Jon Snow was a handsome man with dark curls and grey eyes. He looked more like a Stark than Robb did. "Jon, this is Cassana, my betrothed. Ana, this is my brother Jon," Robb introduced, smiling broadly as Ana held a hand out to him.
After a moment of hesitation, Jon took it and pressed his lips to the back of Ana's hand, bowing low. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jon," Ana said, making a point of holding eye contact with him, though he was clearly uncomfortable.
"The pleasure is mine," Jon responded, straightening to his full height after Ana had gestured for him to. "But I cannot understand why you would wish to meet me," he said.
Surprised, Ana glanced at Robb. He frowned, clearly unhappy. "Once I marry Robb, will you not be my brother too?" she asked carefully, her brows furrowing.
"If you wish to think of me that way," Jon replied just as carefully. The look in his eyes was uncertain, confused, why she would want that.
"Jon, if you didn't know, I have many bastard siblings. My father, he…. He has never been faithful to my mother," Ana began, trying to choose her words carefully.
"Do you know them well?" Robb asked curiously.
Ana shook her head. "No, I do not. But I wish I did. You see, my mother would never let them near. She would have them harmed before she would even consider letting them inside the Keep, and threaten Joffrey's claim. I know of an Edric, of a Mya, and that there are many others, in the tens, I've heard. I wish I could know them. You should consider yourself lucky that Lord Stark decided to keep you close, allow you your siblings. Mine have not been allowed that," she explained.
Jon's brows were furrowed, he looked as if he did not quite agree. "You are safe here in Winterfell, are you not?" Ana questioned, and Jon nodded. "You were provided for by Lord Stark, yes?" Jon nodded again. "My siblings are not safe, you see. My mother and her family think they threaten our claim to the throne. My father cannot even provide for them, because it would reveal their presence and make them vulnerable. If they ever come to realize who their father is, that they could lay claim…"
"The Lannisters would have them killed," Jon echoed, his and Robb's expressions both reflecting shock.
"You are lucky, Jon Snow," Ana said, nodding her head. Again, Jon nodded in agreement.
"You've given me much to think about, your highness," Jon murmured quietly.
"Then we will leave you. Just remember, Jon, that I have no qualms calling a bastard my brother. Just as your brother does," she reminded him, cutting her eyes to Robb. Jon followed her gaze, eyes softening on his brother.
"I always will," Robb promised, holding out his arm. Jon stepped forward, clasping his brother's arm.
"Thank you," Jon said, his dark eyes full of emotion.
Ana smiled. "Robb, we should return before my mother starts to look for me," she suggested, turning to look at her betrothed.
Robb immediately agreed, escorting her from the stables and towards her chambers. "Thank you, Ana," he said when they'd reached her door.
Ana tilted her head to the side. "Whatever for, Robb?" she asked, lowering the hood of her fur-lined cloak.
Robb's gaze was warm as his Tully blue eyes combed over her. He reached out, tucking a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear. "For your kindness to my brother. Truly…it means much to me," he answered.
Ana gifted him with a smile. "He seems like a good man, Robb. I would not have him doubt his worth because of the circumstances of his birth," she said. Robb smiled in response, leaning forward to press his lips to her forehead.
She looked up at him, butterflies fluttering in her stomach as his lips lingered upon her skin. "I shall bid you good night, Princess," Robb said when he drew away, mouth spreading into a smirk when he saw the blush that had painted her fair skin.
"Good night, Robb," Ana said softly in return, turning away and entering her chambers.
xxOITFxx
Catelyn was already in bed when Ned finally came in. She was awake though, clearly waiting for her husband before allowing herself to rest. "Did Robert finally have enough?" she asked, tone disapproving.
Ned shook his head, eyes rolling. "I don't think there's enough mead in Westeros to satisfy Robert's thirst," he said lowly, sitting down on the edge of the bed to undress. "But the princess…" he began, glancing back to share a swift smile with his wife.
"Ana will make a good wife for Robb," Catelyn said resolutely. "So sweet and humble…" she gave a scornful laugh. "It is a true wonder that she is the Lannister woman's child,"
Ned nodded along in agreement, slipping under the covers beside her. "She is the best of both Robert and Cersei. But, the crown prince – he is the worst of them both," he said. "I worry for a Westeros under his rule," Ned continued, much more quietly.
Catelyn fixed him with a look. "Oh, Ned, he's still just a boy," she chided.
"His brother is a boy, too, but not nearly as rotten," Ned pointed out. "Of all Robert's children, I fear only Cassana is suited to rule," he confided to his wife.
Catelyn shook her head, frown forming on her lips. She didn't wish that for her son. "Thankfully, that is unlikely. Both her brothers would have to die before she could lay claim,"
"It is the reason I agreed to this match, Cat. I am glad Ana and Robb seem well-suited to each other, but the possibility of the Iron Throne falling to our son makes me fearful," Ned said.
"Robb would be a good king," Cat said.
"I know, Cat, but I do not wish it for our son, or for Ana. They would be ruined by it. It is too much for any one man or woman. I agreed to this match because I thought he and Ana would be happy here together – as Lord and Lady of Winterfell,"
"And no other reason?" Catelyn wondered.
Ned thought for a moment before answering. "I suppose because I could protect Robert's line this way. His three youngest, they do not resemble him at all. I have suspected ever since we visited King's Landing four years ago,"
Catelyn gaped in shock. "Ned, you can't possibly be saying – "
"I will not dare say it aloud, Cat. But by marrying Ana into our family, both of our lines will endure. I will protect Robert's legacy by taking in his only trueborn child," Ned declared.