Cassandra felt her knees become weak underneath her weight as Theon left her. She doubled over, her hands on her stomach as she felt physically sick from the amount of alcohol she had drained. She'd had three or four goblets. Not enough to make her feel ill.
But combine that with what Theon had said, and she knew it was a recipe for disaster. She didn't want him to go away like that. She didn't want him to leave her for some girl just because he felt bad about himself. She had genuinely been trying to help him. It was all that she had wanted to do. He had overreacted.
She was angry with him.
So angry.
So why was she crying over him?
"Cassandra?" a voice asked in the darkness. She turned her head to the side, her father stood at the side of the archery range whilst she continued to bend over, her stomach churning and the tears still slipping down her cheeks.
"Are you crying?" he asked her.
"No," she lied, her snivelling giving her away.
Eddard moved closer to her, resting his hand on her back before wrapping her into his arms. She stayed where she was, her arms down by her side as she did so. She didn't move as her father placed his hand on top of her head, soothingly running it down her limp curly hair.
"Whatever is the matter, my sweet girl?" he wondered. She shook her head against him as he pulled back, his hands resting on her shoulders. She couldn't tell him. If she told him then he would be angry with her. He would be angry that she had even been with Theon.
"Nothing," Cassandra lied to her father.
"You wouldn't be out here crying over nothing, would you?" he replied to her, his face inquisitive as she shrugged awkwardly at him. Ned sighed once, his head moving back and forth before he rested his open palm on her cheek.
"It's him, isn't it?" Ned checked with her. She said nothing, turning her gaze around from his, placing her top teeth over her bottom lip as she did so. She kept quiet, her face unreadable as Ned groaned audibly, obviously annoyed with what she had done. Why did she insist on going with Theon?
"What did he do to you?" Ned asked. "Cassandra, if you don't speak to me then I will assume the worst."
"No," she blurted out quickly, moving to look at her father, her head shaking back and forth hastily. She became flushed at the memory of what he had said to her. The way he had walked off without another glance in her direction. It was almost as if he didn't care that much about her. Cassandra couldn't comprehend it.
"Then talk to me, Cassandra," Ned urged his eldest daughter. "Robb has told us how you refuse to stop seeing him."
"We yelled at each other," Cassandra explained. Ned dropped his hand to the small of her back, walking her to the barrels which lined the walls. He sat down on one whilst Cassandra sat on the one next door. She took a deep breath as Ned ran his hand in circles over her back. She slowed her breathing down, managing to think clearly.
"The Queen's youngest brother saw Theon and I," Cassandra admitted to her father. "Please don't tell mother."
"Cass," Ned complained to her. "I don't keep secrets from your mother. You know that, sweet pea."
"But...father...she would stop me from seeing him...if he wants to see me anymore, that is," Cassandra blubbered. "Theon was going to threaten him...I stopped him and pleaded with him not to tell anyone that he had seen us. Theon said that I had cut him off and treated him like an idiot...he overreacted...all I wanted to do was stop him from threatening Tyrion and causing more trouble."
Ned took a deep breath, a small shake of his head escaping him. He watched his daughter as she sat where she was, tiring with every gasp which escaped her mouth.
"He is special to me," Cassandra admitted to her father. "I just wish you and mother would understand that...I wish you would leave us be...he is not his father."
"Cass," Ned whispered her name, his arm moving to wrap around her shoulders. "He is a Greyjoy. He is a hostage...and I know that an alliance between you two would be practical. It would tie us to the Greyjoys."
"Then why marry me to some stranger?" Cassandra wondered.
"Because Theon is not right for you. You know that as well as I do." Ned replied quickly. "Your mother does not trust the Greyjoys. No one does. She would never allow you to be married to one of them. Neither would I."
"It doesn't matter anyway," Cassandra mumbled out her complaint. "Theon...he thinks he is second best to everyone."
"We've raised him alongside Robb and Jon," Ned said.
"But...I...I do understand him...I just wish he wouldn't think it. I do nothing to undermine him. I do not think that I am better because of my blood."
"It seems like Theon went over the top," Ned said to his daughter. "Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No," Cassandra said quickly. "I will sort this out with him. Please, don't tell mother. I'm begging you."
"Cassandra," Ned complained again.
"Please," she tried again. "I won't stop seeing him if we sort this argument out. I care for him."
"Do you care for him as deeply as you think?" Ned wondered from his daughter. "Or are you clinging onto him because you are scared of marriage to a stranger?"
Cassandra remained silent, pouting as her father continued to stare at her, his gaze never easing for once as she took a moment to think about his question. He sighed when she didn't answer him. He knew the answer anyway. Theon had managed to worm his way into his daughter's life and Ned didn't know what to do about it.
"I care for him," Cassandra whispered, her voice stern and thoughtful. Her gaze turned to look at her father, a small smile of disbelief on her face as she did so. "I really do care for him, father."
Ned kissed her on the top of her head, waiting for a second as she placed her head on his shoulder.
"I will speak to your mother," Ned assured her. "I will not promise anything, Cassandra. I will not lie to her. You need to know that."
"I know," she assured him.
"But...if you insist on going behind our backs then...if I don't find out then there is nothing that I can do to stop it," Ned said and he stood up again. "Theon is not a bad lad. We just don't think he is good enough for you, Cass."
"Should I not be the one to decide that?" Cassandra wondered.
"You're not old enough," Ned declared. "You should go to bed for the evening. You need to rest."
She agreed with him, walking back to her chamber where a handmaiden was waiting for her. She dismissed the girl, assuring her that she would be fine on her own to change. She moved slowly, slipping out from her gown and leaving it pooled on the ground. Placing her nightdress on, she looked at her reflection for a moment. She did look terrible with her red rimmed eyes and her scarlet coloured cheeks.
She didn't dwell on it as she climbed into her own bed, settling against the pillows, wondering where Theon was. As she closed her eyes she imagined him with Ros. She imagined the two of them together and a new wave of tears came over her.
...
Theon walked back into the walls of Winterfell after much deliberation. He had left the brothel behind him, unable to go in and see Ros. As much as he needed something, he didn't need her. He knew what he needed and he had upset her. He wondered if she would see him that night. Theon knew that he had to try.
He had to do something to try and make it up to her.
He was adamant that he hadn't overreacted. He thought that he had been reasonable. But, he didn't go back to her room and knock on her door. He found himself too tired and still too angry to talk with her. He shouldn't be like that when he finally went to her.
A night to cool down was necessary.
He would see her after the hunt tomorrow and talk with her. That would be for the best.
...
Cassandra stood by her mother's side the next day as they watched everyone leave for the royal hunt. The King led the congregation, galloping on his horse with Ned close behind him. Cassandra's gaze found Robb's for a moment and he smiled at her. She tried to return the kind gesture but found herself unable to do so with conviction.
Theon lurked beside Robb, clearly allowed to go on the hunt instead of being present at the previous night's feast. He looked at Cassandra for a moment, his gaze emotionless as she turned away, looking down the walkway which her and her mother stood on.
"Your father told me of last night," Catelyn finally declared. She looked across to her daughter who had her gaze firmly focused on the floor. "Cassandra, you are my daughter. My first born daughter and I love you. But, if you keep on going against me then I don't know what will happen. I don't want to see you hurt. Theon Greyjoy could hurt you. Never trust a Greyjoy."
Cassandra moved her hand to her arm, rubbing the bare skin under her cloak as Catelyn pushed herself closer to her daughter, her arms wrapping around her as she held her tightly. Shock came over Cassandra as her mother completed the action and the congregation for the hunt finally left.
"You are so free spirited, Cassandra," Catelyn complained. "You're so reckless and foolish. But, I love you so much. I want you to be happy. Please believe me when I say that Theon Greyjoy is not the one who can make you happy. He is not the one who would make a good husband for you in the future."
Cassandra kept silent, allowing her mother to hold her tightly. Catelyn pulled back, her hand resting on her daughter's cheek.
"Please don't hurt yourself," her mother begged her. "Please don't let him be the one to hold your heart."
"Shouldn't I be the one to decide that?" Cassandra croaked out. "Besides, it doesn't matter. We argued with each other. I don't know what will happen between us. I don't care anymore, mother."
"Cass," Catelyn sighed her name. "Don't let him worm his way back to you. You deserve someone much better. A Greyjoy is not a suitable match."
"So you keep saying," Cassandra said. "Can I be excused? Sansa asked me to help her mend her dress?"
"If you must." Catelyn spoke.
Cassandra didn't get very far as scream echoed into her ears. She turned back around to look at her mother, wondering what the sound had been before the two women ran in the direction of it.
...
The news of Bran's fall had been a shock to the hunting party when they returned. Ned had been told that his wife was by Bran's side whilst the girls had been there and been sent away. Catelyn didn't want them to see their brother in such a way when the maester had been tending to him.
Robb had followed his father whilst Theon had sought Cassandra out. He knew that she would be upset. She would be beyond distraught. He looked in the Godswood first, checking that she was not there. He doubted she would be. Cassandra had often doubted her faith in the Gods whilst she had been growing up.
The next logical place would be the Broken Tower. And Theon was right. She was stood in the corner by the window, looking down at the place where Bran had fallen.
"Cass," he called out to her. She turned around to look at him for a moment; her rage didn't come into play. She remained stood where she was, unable to even contemplate becoming angry at him. She had bigger things to worry about.
"Are you alright?" Theon asked her, walking closer to her. She turned around to look at him, watching him for a moment or two. His gaze found hers as a hand moved to her arm in a soothing manner. She looked down at the contact, her eyes wide as Theon's eyes never left her face.
"The wolf was the one to save him...I don't know if we would have found him if it didn't keep on barking."
Theon thought back to the day when he had brought the wolves back to them. Cassandra's wolf was rarely by her side, choosing to roam around Winterfell. Mericia was a free spirit. Much like her owner.
"Is he going to survive?"
"The maester says that we will know by the end of the night," Cassandra said. "It doesn't make any sense. Bran has never fallen before. He couldn't have fallen."
"He did," Theon said to her. She shook her head back and forth, unable to comprehend him falling. "It isn't impossible, Cass. He is skilled...but even the best of us suffer."
She said nothing back to him for a moment, watching him as he moved his hand to her chin, forcing her gaze upwards so that he looked at her.
"He's strong," he promised her. "He'll make it through this."
Cassandra nodded and he saw her eyes begin to tear up again. He moved quickly, enveloping her into his arms. She held him back, her arms around his neck as she rested her head on his shoulder. She knew she was still angry with him, but she couldn't let that emotion overcome her when she had seen Bran's mangled body on the floor.
"I hope so," Cassandra agreed with Theon, her voice nothing more than a whisper. He pulled back for a moment, both of his hands resting on her cheeks as he forced himself to look encouragingly at her.
"He will," he promised her. "He is a Stark. They're hard to hurt."
Cassandra snorted at that, the sound completely unladylike as Theon smirked at her, pressing his lips against her forehead. He held her tight to him one more time before she spoke;
"I'm still angry with you."
"I've never known you to hold a grudge," Theon said back to her, his voice sarcastic. "I didn't go to the brothel last night."
It was Cassandra's turn to pull away from him, her gaze narrowed as he shrugged at her.
"I couldn't do it," he said to her. "I didn't want to. Apparently I only have eyes for one Stark nowadays."
She faltered for a moment at this piece of information, not too sure what she had been expecting to hear from him.
"Why did you walk away from me then?" she asked him. "Why did you leave me?"
"I was angry," Theon admitted. "I still am angry with the way you treated me, Cassandra."
"I was trying to help," she pleaded with him. "You have to understand that, Theon. I didn't want to undermine you. I wanted you to stop threatening him. In the end it doesn't even matter...father found me crying...he asked why and I told him."
With a deep sigh, a small smirk came back over Theon and he shook his head.
"So the imp doesn't matter?" Theon checked.
"Not really," Cassandra admitted. "Why can you not see that I was simply trying to help you?"
"I suppose help isn't something which I've known too often," Theon admitted to her. "And the way you did it...surely you see how it annoys me, Cassandra? The undermining part...the fact that you treat me as if I am someone beneath you."
"You're not that," Cassandra promised him, her voice low and calm. "You should know that, Theon. And if you don't know that then you don't know me."
"I know you," Theon promised her. "I don't want to fight, Cassandra. Especially not at this time."
"I don't want to fight," Cassandra agreed with him. "But you need to know how I would never mean to undermine you, Theon. I care about you and I don't want to hurt you."
"And you need to understand how I feel, Cassandra," Theon urged her. "But we need to put this behind us. There are bigger things to worry about."
"I know," Cassandra agreed. "I should get back to mother. She refuses to eat or leave Bran's side. Rickon is also confused...poor boy...I'll put him to bed tonight."
"I'll make sure Robb is coping," Theon said to her. "And then I will check on you later."
"I'll be fine," Cassandra promised him.
"You may be," Theon agreed limply. "I'm still going to check on you."
Cassandra pressed her lips to his cheek as he took hold of her hand. He began to walk with her out of the tower until something caught her eye in the glimmering setting sun's light. She released Theon as he watched her with an intrigued gaze.
"Theon...someone else has been here," she said to him. He moved to her side, bending onto one knee by her side. He looked at the shimmering blade, picking it up into his hands before Cassandra noted the blonde hair which sat beside it.
"We need to go to Lord Stark," Theon quickly told her. "Your father needs to know about this."
"I agree," Cassandra said. "You don't think...they...one of them...pushed him?" Cassandra wondered after a moment.
"We'll soon find out," Theon promised her.
The pair of them looked at each other, their gazes full of wonder along with worry about what they could have potentially discovered.
...
A/N: Literally cannot wait until the story gets started! Anyway, thank you to dudleygirl, candice, starrysky7 and Savannah's Angels for reviewing! Do let me know what you think so far please!