"I'll come with you to see your father," Theon informed Cassandra as soon as she held the dagger in her hands. She struggled to understand what it could possibly mean in the scheme of things. The way to the Broken Tower was a way which only few knew. The Tower was difficult to reach, but someone had.
"No," Cassandra shook her head at him. "I imagine my father already wants your blood, Theon. I'll go to him...but this is madness..."
"How is it?" Theon wondered from her. "The Lannisters are the only ones here with such blonde hair. You know that, I know that."
"Yes," Cassandra agreed limply. She felt Theon wrap his hand around her wrist as he prised the dagger from her stern grip. She let him take hold of it, watching as he examined it and then note the blonde hair between her fingers. Theon placed his hand on her cheek, his thumb roaming around her pale skin as he did so.
"They won't get away with this," Theon said. His voice was stern and full of authority. He sounded like the Greyjoy who Cassandra had known for many years. "We'll see to that."
"I know," Cassandra said. "We need to go now. Father leaves for King's Landing tomorrow morning."
"I hear he is taking your sisters with him," Theon declared as the two of them made their way down the Tower, side by side and hand in hand. Cassandra nodded. She pushed her free hand through her hair, pushing it over and behind her shoulders as she did so.
"Yes," she agreed quickly. "Father asked me to stay here. He needs someone to be here for mother and Rickon. Robb will be too busy taking care of business. There always need to be a Stark in Winterfell."
"I'm glad," Theon said to her, his voice modest and truthful. "I had wondered if Lord Stark would take you with him."
"No," Cassandra said. "He wondered about it. I persuaded him otherwise."
It was the moment when Cassandra was out in the courtyard when she noted that she had dropped the blonde hair. She cursed loudly, looking around on the ground as Theon stood still, his brow arched as he wondered why she was creating such a fuss all of a sudden. Cassandra continued to curse loudly, her voice demanding and full of annoyance in the middle of the night.
"We do not need the hair," Theon promised her. "Your father will believe that we have seen it. We have the dagger. That is the main thing."
"Fine," Cassandra huffed loudly, standing tall once again before rushing along with Theon. She found her father in the main hall, sat on one of the wooden benches with paper in front of him. His hand was holding his head, his eyes only managing to stay open. Cassandra released Theon's hand as she neared him.
"Father," she spoke his name.
Ned turned around in his seat, smiling lightly at his eldest daughter whilst she stood in front of him. His gaze looked to his ward who stood behind her. Theon managed to keep his hands to himself, preferring to keep them on his body instead of have Lord Stark cut them from him. Ned narrowed his gaze slightly, wondering what could be so urgent in the middle of the night. And then he wondered why there were even awake in the middle of the night.
Thoughts often filled Ned with dread, and this was such an occasion.
"What are you doing here?" Ned wondered.
"I was in the Broken Tower...where Bran fell..." Cassandra said.
Ned winced as he heard that, remembering how his son looked so innocent lay in his bed, waiting for news to come to him.
"Why were you two in the Broken Tower?" Ned queried. Curiosity was getting the better of him.
"We were...talking...and apologising," Cassandra decided to reply. "We found something though, father...something rather suspicious..."
"What?" Ned asked from her.
Cassandra turned around, nodding at Theon. Ned watched as the hostage pulled a dagger from his cloak, the blade shimmering in the light. He held his hand out expectantly, waiting for Theon to press the blade into his open palm.
"All members of the Kingsguard carry such a blade with them," Cassandra whispered. "And there was a blonde hair too...in the Broken Tower..."
Ned continued to look at the blade, his own eyes open wide with wonder as his daughter continued to watch him. Theon moved slowly, his hand moving to rest on Cassandra's back for a moment as Ned remained puzzled at what he was seeing in front of him. Cassandra remained quiet for a few moments, waiting for her father to say something.
"Cass," Ned whispered, "are you accusing the Lannisters of being involved in Bran's accident?"
"If they are involved then it is no accident," Cassandra replied. "It is odd though, father. Why would a blonde hair and that dagger be in the tower on the same day that Bran fell?"
"Why?" Ned wondered. "Why would anyone want to push Bran?"
"Perhaps he saw something which he shouldn't?" Theon wondered, standing close to Cassandra's side once again.
"No," Ned said simply. "I cannot accuse the Lannisters of this. Where is the blonde hair?"
"I dropped it."
"There goes some of the evidence."
"You have the dagger," Theon implored Ned. "When has Bran ever injured himself before? He climbed before he could walk."
"Accidents happen," Ned said, his voice quiet and unconvinced.
"Not to Bran. Not when there are two things which link the Lannisters to this."
"You do not know if it is their blade," Ned replied to Cassandra. "I cannot run around and make wild accusations. Do you know what could happen to both of you? Do you know what could happen if you were wrong? Your act is treasonous."
"But what if we are right?" Theon wondered.
"No," Ned said simply. "I shall hear no more of this. I shall look into it myself. I do not want you two running around making these accusations."
"But you will look into it?" Cassandra checked with her father.
He nodded, the knife going back to rest on the table as he did so.
"Yes," he promised her. "Now go to bed. I leave at first light tomorrow morning."
"But...even after this?" Cassandra blabbered out. Her father nodded slowly in response to her.
"Even after this," he confirmed to her. "Do not fret, my dear. I shall get to the bottom of this. The Lannisters are no threat to me or the girls whilst Robert is King."
"How can you be sure?" Cassandra wondered. "If they hurt Bran in our own home then the Gods only know what they can do at King's Landing."
Ned sighed loudly at hearing her. He pushed himself to stand, moving closer to Cassandra, his hands resting on her shoulders. He bent down, his lips pressing against her forehead as he did so.
"Nothing will happen to us," Ned promised her. "Get some sleep, Cass. It has been a long day. You have told me what you think and I have listened. I shall go from here."
Cassandra knew that arguing with her father was futile. There was no point for he would not listen to her anymore. Ned would never do anything brash or impulsive. He needed his time to delve into what he knew. He needed time to make sure his accusations were correct.
Theon followed Cassandra out from the hall. He could feel Ned's eyes burning a hole into him the entire way. He knew that Cassandra had told her father about their argument, but that had been fixed. Theon had seen to that.
He always would.
"Cassandra," Theon whispered as he moved his hand to hold hers. "What are you thinking of?"
She snorted at that, moving her fingers to entwine into Theon's. He walked with her back down the corridors, the only warmth radiating out of the walls as they went.
"What am I not thinking of? That would be a more apt question," Cassandra warned him. He chuckled at hearing her. He moved his hand from hers, daring to wrap his arm around her waist as he wondered where the two of them were walking to.
"Your father said that he would look into this. He is right. It is not our place to go around and accuse Lannisters. It would do us no good."
"Do you think it was them?" Cassandra wondered as she pushed open the door to her bedchamber. Theon looked around the room, noting that the candles had all been lit. Her bed was cleanly made and a desk sat next to her dresser. The room was dark yet warm. A typical Winterfell room.
"I don't know," Theon admitted. "I don't like the Lannisters. I don't like any of them. It seems too coincidental for them not to have been the ones to have committed this act. I just don't know what they gain from it."
"Neither do I," Cassandra agreed. She sighed deeply, a hand moving to the back of her neck as she pushed her cloak from her shoulders.
Theon coughed into his hand, watching as she stood in her green dress. Theon couldn't help but put Bran to the back of his mind as he watched Cassandra push her hair over one shoulder, her hands on her hips as she had her back to him.
"Lord Stark shall sort this out," Theon promised her. "I assure you of that."
"I know he will," Cassandra said. She sunk down onto her bed, watching as Theon removed his own cloak from his shoulders.
He took a seat next to her, placing his fur on top of her discarded cloak as he allowed her to lean against his side. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"The maester says that Bran is strong," Theon said. An attempt to comfort her came into his mind once again. "He is a Stark, Cass. He will make it through this."
"I hope so," Cassandra agreed with Theon. "Mother will not leave his bedside. She refuses to eat, sleep or converse with any of us."
"She's grieving," Theon decided to say to her. "You need to let her see that Bran will wake up."
"I know," Cassandra agreed meekly with Theon. "You should retire to bed, Theon. It has been a long day."
"Do you want me to go?" Theon asked her.
Cassandra smirked at hearing him, shaking her head before kissing him on the cheek.
"No," she admitted. "But it is proper. You cannot stay here tonight...the servants would gossip and I would be scandalised forever."
"The Lady Cassandra, scared of scandalising behaviour for taking a man who was not her betrothed to her bedchamber," Theon mocked her.
She smirked and sat up straight, her hand hitting against his arm. Theon continued to smirk as he watched her, a small smile sat on her face as her eyes stared into his. He looked back at her, wondering how often she would smile in the coming months. Theon could sense a change. He just didn't know how much this change would affect them. He moved his hand to her cheek, cupping it tenderly as she closed her eyes, her lips parting as Theon moved closer to her. He said nothing as he felt her breath hit his cheek and he closed his own eyes.
He neared her, his lips close to hers before he felt them press together. Theon startled for a moment as he realised he had his eyes closed. Had he ever closed them when kissing Ros? Had he ever held her as tenderly as he held Cassandra? His behaviour was odd and overwhelming. Theon never dreamt it possible to act in such a manner.
He moaned as he felt Cassandra move closer to him, her upper half pressed flush against his. He moved his hand to her waist, his fingers gripping around it as he pushed her further down the bed. He managed to move his body to rest on top of hers, his hand still on her waist. His other hand was on her neck. He pulled back from her for a moment. He watched her with intent for a second, wondering what she was thinking as she gasped for breath.
Her eyes opened and searched his, wondering why he had stopped as she felt his weight on top of her.
Moving a hand up to his cheek, she stroked his hair away from his face slowly.
"I think I'm falling in love with you, Theon Greyjoy," she whispered. Her voice was barely audible above the pants of breath which the two of them were taking.
But Theon heard her.
He heard her loud and clear.
His throat clenched for a moment and he wondered if he could say it back to her. He gulped and watched her. She turned into a scared girl as he said nothing, the fear evident in her eyes as she wondered if he would say it back to her. She wondered if he would bother replying, or if she had made a mistake in saying it. Was it too soon?
"I should have said...I shouldn't..." Cassandra blabbered as she tried to push Theon from her.
He refused to let her move from his grasp, his hands wrapping around her wrists and pinning them by her head. He leaned in closer to her, his forehead against hers as he did so.
"No," Theon whispered. "Don't hide from me, Cass. Never."
She nodded at him, the fear slowly leaving her eyes as Theon moved down to kiss her again.
Cassandra longed to hear him say the same words back to her. But he kept her distracted easily without saying them. She knew they would come in time. They had to.
...
The howling of wolves was the thing which woke Cassandra the following morning. She turned in her sleep, her head resting on something hard as her eyes peeled open. Slowly, she looked at the man who lay beside her. She sat up, startled for a moment as she wondered why Theon was holding her in his arms.
She noted that the two of them wore the same clothes as the previous night. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she realised nothing too scandalous had happened.
Sun was already streaming in through her open windows as she pushed herself from Theon. He stayed where he was, snores escaping his lips as she moved across to the window, looking out of it to see the congregation of the royal party building up.
"Damn," Cassandra muttered, smoothing her dress out as she looked for her shoes.
"Theon," she snapped his name. He grunted in response but didn't open his eyes. "Theon! Get up! Father is leaving! We need to see him off."
"What?" Theon mumbled. "What are you talking about?"
"Theon," Cassandra complained. "Come on. It's bad enough we're both wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Now, get up."
Theon complained as Cassandra took hold of his hand, dragging him from the bed. He continued to moan in protest as she checked the corridors to make sure they were empty enough for them to sneak outside. She fixed Theon's hair as he fixed her dress, making sure they both looked presentable in time to see the party off.
"I've been looking for you all morning," Robb complained to her as soon as he saw his sister. Theon lurked in the shadows as she stepped forwards. Arya and Sansa were already seated on a wagon whilst her father conversed with Jory.
"I slept in," Cassandra complained, running a hand down her limp curls. Robb regarded her with an arched brow before turning his gaze to look at Theon.
"Cass," he complained, noting that the both of them hadn't changed since yesterday. "Tell me you did not-"
"-I did not," she interrupted before he could finish his sentence. Her gaze bore into his as she shook her head. "I didn't, Robb."
He looked at her, not completely at ease. She moved past him, standing beside Arya and Sansa for a moment. She regarded her sisters with pleasantness. Arya complained whilst Sansa swooned over her betrothed. Cassandra smiled for her, forcing herself to be pleasant. Arya tried to persuade her to come along on the journey.
Cassandra said that they had to look after each other. She would do the same for Rickon and Bran.
"Cassandra," her father spoke to her. She turned around, ruffling Arya's hair one final time as she felt saddened at the thought of her sisters leaving for a life in the South. They didn't belong there. Starks belonged in the North. In the cold.
"The dagger is thought to have been from our armoury," Ned told his daughter. "It is not the Lannisters. I asked Jory this morning. He said that some men often go into the Tower. It's private and secluded and maids don't like their business to be known. Much like you and Theon."
"Me and Theon have never done anything," Cassandra denied.
"And I hope it stays that way," her father urged her. "As for the blonde hair...Cassandra...we have nothing. I cannot do anything. It must be a mistake."
"Do you truly believe that?" Cassandra wondered from her father. His gaze left hers for a moment and he said nothing. Cassandra knew the answer. She knew he thought something suspicious was happening.
"Look after your mother," Ned urged her. "And Rickon. Robb has duties now."
"Father-"
"-I can't talk about it here, Cassandra," Ned hissed back at his daughter. "Enough is enough."
She pursed her lips together and nodded at him. She hugged him quickly, kissing his cheek before she walked back to Robb. She wasn't one for goodbyes. She didn't want any of them to go. She noted Jon Snow at the back of the congregation. He smiled at his brother and regarded Cassandra with a swift nod of his head. She nodded back at him, unable to do anything else.
She had never found favour with Jon Snow. She had never been able to get along with Jon like Robb. She had seen the arguments which had been caused by him. He was a constant reminder of how her father had been unfaithful. Her mother had told her enough times. Cassandra knew it wasn't his fault. None of it had been his fault. Yet he was a constant reminder.
"Go and change before going to see mother," Robb warned his sister as she watched half of her family leave. "If she sees you wearing the same dress as yesterday then she will assume the worst. She is suffering enough already. She does not need to see you acting like some common whore."
Robb's words stung her and she turned her gaze back to him. His eyes were harsh and stern as hers went wide.
"I told you that nothing happened," she snapped.
"That does not make it better," Robb warned her. "You had him in your bed last night. That's not the way a lady should behave. I would have thought you would have known that. Especially in this time of events, Cassandra."
"We did nothing," Cassandra hissed. "Properness does not matter at this moment in time. Theon was comforting me."
"I bet he was," Robb snorted, turning his head over his shoulder to notice Theon speaking with Ser Rodrik. "Go and change, Cassandra. I shall see you in a while."
Cassandra said nothing as she watched her brother leave and she wondered why he had acted like he had done. Cassandra had done nothing wrong. She did nothing but lay beside Theon. Apparently Robb never would be fine with her and Lord Stark's hostage.
...
Days passed and Bran did not awake. Cassandra continued to look at Rickon, keeping him safe and out of trouble. She rode with him through the woods, allowing him to sit in front of her as she showed him around the Godswood. Theon often rode with her, staying by her side as Robb sought to make sure Winterfell was fine.
Cassandra couldn't help but feel that she was being a better mother to Rickon than her own mother was. And she knew she was right when Lady Stark informed her of her plans.
The night of the fire had been horrific. The library tower burnt down whilst she and Rickon were in the main hall with their evening meals. Theon sat beside her, his hand on her thigh as Rickon slowly ate his food. And then they had been interrupted and told of a fire.
Theon had picked Rickon up in one arm, his other hand held onto Cassandra's as they watched the fire at the library tower from a safe distance in the courtyard. Theon kept his arm around Cassandra, holding her tightly to him as she assured Rickon that everything would be fine. Robb would sort it all out.
She had watched as the fire was doused and then Robb had told them of the attack on Bran. He had told her how their mother had been hurt. Cassandra rushed to her mother's bedside, watching as the woman slept soundly.
Catelyn awoke the next morning, her body sore as she ordered Cassandra to gather Robb and Theon. She needed to do something about what she had discovered. She knew that Bran's attack and accident had not been coincidental. They were both planned.
Cassandra did as she was told, choosing to stay behind and keep Rickon safe. The young boy had been on edge for days. He was worried all the time, constantly clinging to Cassandra for safety. She did not mind. She would willingly look after him for he was her little brother. He needed someone there for him.
"Rickon, don't touch that," Cassandra urged her brother. She stood in the archery range, watching as Rickon moved around and held his wooden bow with the feather arrow. He was aiming at the target much like Bran had done a few weeks back. She smiled as he failed to hit the target and complained gently.
"Cassandra, my love."
Cassandra turned around as she saw her mother move towards her. She unfolded her arms, waiting for her to say something. Catelyn watched her youngest son, a sad smile on her face as she did so.
"Mother."
"I have news to discuss," Catelyn said. "I am leaving Winterfell for King's Landing. I need to speak with your father, my dear."
Cassandra blinked quickly, watching her mother with intent for a moment.
"Why?"
"The dagger the assassin wielded was not from Winterfell," Catelyn spoke. "They say it was a fine blade. I...I also went to the Broken Tower...I found a blonde hair, Cassandra."
Her daughter said nothing, remembering that she had found the exact same thing. Yet her father had told her that it was probably nothing. She had accepted that. She had followed the word of her father. What else was she supposed to have done? She kept quiet for a moment.
"Theon said he found a blonde hair there with you," Catelyn pursed her lips. "Odd how that happened. What have I told you about him?"
"We have bigger things to worry about, mother," Cassandra urged the elder woman.
Catelyn looked at her sternly and nodded in agreement with her.
"We do," she said. "I bet my life on this that the Lannisters are involved. I need to speak to your father. They cannot get away with this."
"And why must you be the one to go?"
"There always has to be a Stark in Winterfell," Catelyn responded. "Robb is that Stark. You need to stay here for Rickon...you have looked after him more than I this week."
Cassandra said nothing, knowing full well that her mother was speaking the truth.
"Promise me that you will be safe, Cassandra," Catelyn urged her daughter, her hand resting on her cheek. "Robb has promised me that he will keep an eye on you."
"You mean he will make sure that Theon stays away from me?"
Catelyn's lips tugged up for a moment before she pressed them on her daughter's forehead, holding her close to her for a moment.
"Yes," she agreed limply. "Be good, Cassandra. I need you to look after Rickon and Bran. I have prayed to the Old Gods and the New Gods for him...I have done all that I can..."
Cassandra nodded once, hugging her mother back for a moment before Catelyn moved over to Rickon. She picked him up and spun him in the air. He laughed as she kissed him and set him down, a small tear falling from her eye as she did so.
She would be home soon. She would see her family again.
She looked back at Cassandra for a moment, a smile still on her face as she left her daughter behind her.
...
A/N: Thank you to Candice, dudleygirl, beserkerbeast and Cc for reviewing the previous chapter! Now everything really does begin to pick up!