"Cassandra!"
The young girl stood up as she heard her name being called. She turned her attention away from her direwolf, Mericia, and looked to the voice that had called her. Theon stood away from the kennels, a wide grin on his face.
"Go and wander, Mericia," Cassandra petted her wolf for another moment. "But not too far."
Her wolf was rarely by her side, choosing instead to walk around Winterfell in the dark woods which accompanied it. Cassandra stood up and walked over to Theon as he held his hand out to her, helping her out of the hay of the kennels.
"What is it?" she wondered from him.
He continued to smirk. "Bran is awake."
Cassandra felt her heart flutter as a small gasp escaped her mouth, a wide grin beaming on her face as she rushed forwards to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Theon held her tightly to him, just pleased to have her hold onto him. Theon couldn't explain it. Catelyn Stark had left and Cassandra and him had barely had to hide their affection.
Robb had been busy with Maester Luwin and the running of Winterfell. Theon sometimes helped him when his help was required. Most of the time he stayed with Cassandra whilst she looked after Rickon, tending to his every need. Theon wondered what it would be liked if Lady and Lord Stark didn't return. If he and Cassandra could remain by themselves. He supposed life would be better.
"When did he wake up?" Cassandra wondered as she pulled back from Theon.
He tucked her hand onto his arm. "A few moments ago. Robb is with him now."
"And does he know about his legs?" Cassandra wondered.
It had been a while since Maester Luwin had told them that he doubted Bran would be able to walk again. He had lost use of his legs, leaving him paralysed. Cassandra had been in disbelief, yet she would simply be happy to have her brother given back to her. Perhaps the Gods did listen to her mother's pleas, after all.
"Robb was telling him as I left to find you," Theon admitted. "I don't think he will take the news well."
"I can hardly blame him," Cassandra replied in a curt tone to Theon. "What will he do, Theon? He always dreamt of becoming a knight."
Theon turned his head down to look at her. "He will rule over some castle one day. You are Starks. You all manage to continue in life."
Cassandra sighed. She nodded once as they took to the walls of the castle, wandering through them until they eventually came to Bran's room. Cassandra said nothing as she looked on at the sight before her. Bran had his face scrunched up in anger whilst Robb stood to his side, looking down at him with an unrecognisable expression.
"Bran," Cassandra sighed his name. She let go of Theon and stood beside Robb, bending down to run her hand over her brother's hair.
"I'm a cripple," Bran complained to his sister. "I'm useless."
"Never say that," Cassandra snapped at him, crouching by his bedside before taking hold of his hand. Robb rested a hand on his sister's shoulder as she continued to watch Bran with determination in her eyes.
"You are no cripple," Cassandra said. "You are Brandon Stark. You are a Stark of Winterfell. One day you will have your own castle and you will be able to continue on. Do you understand me?"
Bran looked at his sister, neither agreeing or denying what she had said to him. There would be no point. Bran knew he was useless now. He had no hope left for him.
"I cannot become a knight now," he replied to her.
Cassandra bit down on her tongue for a moment, her hand moving to remove his hair from his cheek. She shook her head, sadness apparent in her actions as she made the movement.
"No, Bran," she agreed with him. "You cannot. You will not be able to do a lot of things, I'm afraid. But the things you really want to do...well...we will try to make them happen."
"Can you make me walk again?" Bran wondered from her.
She said nothing for another moment.
"No." She admitted sadly.
"Then I wish I was dead."
"Bran!" Robb was the one to speak loudly, the thought of his brother dead something which did not bode well with him. "Never say that again."
Bran looked to his brother, challenging his gaze.
"I wish I was dead," he repeated, the words each more pronounced and meaningful this time.
Cassandra shook her head as Robb moved his hand underneath her elbow, hauling her to stand up again. Bran turned onto his side, closing his eyes as defeat came over him. No one understood how he felt. How could they? They had no idea what he was going through.
"I'm tired," Bran complained.
"Then sleep for a while," Cassandra urged him, knowing full well that he was not tired. He just wanted them to leave him be. He wanted time to accept what had happened to him. Robb kept hold of his sister, his arm moving into hers as he walked past Theon who had been lurking in the corridor.
"What did he say?" Theon wondered; walking to Cassandra's other side, noting that Robb had a firm grip on his sister's arm. Robb had done all he could to keep the two of them apart, knowing that every moment they spent together would only worsen what they felt when they were torn apart.
"He said he wished he was dead." Cassandra spoke.
Robb scowled. "He didn't mean it."
"Did he not?" Cassandra wondered, looking up to her elder brother. "You saw his face as well as I did, Robb. Did he look like he didn't mean it? Did he look like he was faking?"
"He is confused," Robb simply said. "He doesn't know what to feel. He needs time to adjust."
"Anything is better than death," Theon declared suddenly, both of the siblings turning to look at him as he shrugged nonchalantly at them. "What?" he wondered. "The boy is still alive. He should be grateful for that. He gets to live another day."
"He gets to live another day without being able to do what most others do," Robb snapped back at Theon.
Cassandra sighed, moving her hand to her brother's cheek, turning him away from glaring at Theon.
"Don't argue," she urged him. "Has there not been enough pain recently?"
"He should learn to hold his tongue," Robb spoke back to her.
"I was speaking the truth." Theon replied. "If you cannot handle the truth then that is hardly my issue. Bran is alive. Being alive has to be more preferable than death. You need to tell him that, before he becomes too depressed to see it himself."
"He is my brother," Robb replied. His anger with Theon had been continuously on the up. He couldn't stand the sight of the boy ever since he had learned that he spent the nights with Cassandra. He spent every single moment with his sister. Robb knew how Theon treated women. He only hoped that Cassandra was different. Theon said she was, but Robb was not easily appeased.
"Enough!" Cassandra snapped at the both of them. "How is your arguing helping anything?"
"It isn't," Theon agreed with her, and Robb ground his teeth together, anger taking hold of him.
Cassandra let go of her brother's arm, turning to stand in front of them, her hands on her hips as she did so.
"Mother wouldn't want you two arguing when we are in the midst of trouble," Cassandra said. "She would want you to be there for Bran. She would want you to make sure that he is healthy. We need to do all we can for him."
"Since when did you care what mother wanted?" Robb asked his sister. "You seem determined to go against her on most things."
Cassandra felt her teeth bite down on the inside of her cheek. She shook her head back and forth, looking to the ceiling. She knew Robb would have to bring Theon up. She had been lucky to have avoided her brother for he had been too busy for her.
"I'm not going against mother purposefully," she promised her brother. "I am doing it because I want to be with Theon."
"I told you I wouldn't hurt her," Theon promised Robb. "You have my word for that."
"And what happens when she gets married off to some lord somewhere?" Robb wondered. "Are you two that dense? Nothing good can come from you spending all your time together. I've already heard the rumours of you spending the nights together."
"We are not doing anything," Cassandra promised her brother. "Robb, I promise you. We are not..."
"For the love of the Old and New Gods, Cassandra, I do hope not."
"We're not," Theon backed her up. "I'm not that stupid."
"Aren't you?" Robb wondered.
"My Lord!"
Cassandra thanked the interruption of Maester Luwin. Never before had she been so happy to see the maester approach them. The three of them watched as he regained his breath, huffing and puffing heavily as he did so.
"Yes, Maester Luwin?" Robb wondered from him.
"Lord Tyrion has arrived in Winterfell. He requires an audience with you."
Robb's eyes widened and he took a deep breath. His hands balled at his sides as he thought of what that man or his family could have done. He was ready to go and show him what he thought of him.
"Robb," Cassandra interrupted. "You do not know if it was Lord Tyrion who hurt Bran."
"No," Robb agreed. "But it was a member of his family. It was a Lannister, Cassandra."
"And what if it wasn't?" Cassandra asked. "You remember the lessons we had. The Lannisters are the wealthiest family in Westeros. If you accuse them of this then who knows what will happen. Do you want to start a war?"
"Your sister is right," Luwin agreed. "You will receive him and not say anything. It is what you must do, my Lord."
"If it was my brother-"
"-It wasn't," Cassandra interrupted, knowing full well that they didn't need Theon getting involved in this business. He was brash and hot headed. He would start a war before knowing the full details.
Theon looked at her, his cheeks reddening as he did so. Once again she had undermined him. Did no one care to hear what he had to say? Did no one understand what it felt like to be a hostage and looked down on? He thought Cassandra would be different.
She saw the annoyance and rejection on Theon's face and instantly reached out for his hand. She didn't want to start a fight with Theon.
Luwin and Robb watched as Cassandra held onto Theon.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to snap at you."
Theon said nothing as Robb awkwardly coughed.
"You should come and greet him with me, Cass," he urged her. "You are the only Lady left in Winterfell."
"If you wish it," Cassandra agreed.
Robb nodded as Luwin began speaking with him, the pair of them walking down the hall to the greeting room. Cassandra stayed back with Theon for a moment, walking slowly by his side as she did so.
"I didn't mean to cut you off so abruptly," she promised him. "But you cannot give Robb ideas. He needs to keep calm. The Lannisters are not a force to be trifled with."
"Even after what they did?"
"We need evidence," Cassandra said to Theon. "You know that. You know we need to be sure that it was them who committed this crime without jumping to conclusions."
Theon shifted uncomfortably as he stood to the door of the room. Cassandra turned to face him once again, moving her hand to brush through his hair as he dropped his hands to her hips, hauling her closer to him.
"Will you come to me after this?" she checked with him. "I promised Rickon that I would take him riding. I need to tell him about Bran, too."
"Of course," Theon said. "I should go to Ser Rodrik. I told him I would help him today. Will you manage with the imp?"
"I have Robb," Cassandra said. "Besides, he wouldn't do anything, would he? I doubt he will admit to anything, either. I'll be fine, Theon."
"As long as you're sure," Theon said. He moved his mouth lower down to hers, capturing her lips for a brief moment.
"You two really cannot control yourselves, can you?"
Theon pulled back from Cassandra, turning his head to the side. He saw where the imp was stood, his eyes looking at the pair of them. Theon's arm wrapped around Cassandra. The pair of them felt their anger bubble up. They could hardly stand the sight of Tyrion Lannister. They knew what he could have done and it pained both of them.
"Lord Tyrion," Cassandra was the one to speak. "My brother is ready to receive you in the hall."
"I gathered," Tyrion said. "I thought that you two didn't want to be caught. However, I would quite like another threatening from Greyjoy. It was so entertaining last time."
"It can easily be arranged," Theon promised him.
"Lord Tyrion," Cassandra interrupted as the little lord looked entertained with Theon's reaction. "If you would like to come with me, then I am sure Robb will be waiting."
"Perhaps the threats can wait for another time then, Greyjoy," Tyrion said with a smirk. "However, it would be good if you could bring Bran to the hall. I do have a gift for him."
"What gift is this?" Cassandra asked.
"You will see," Tyrion said, pushing past the two of them and moving into the hall.
"Shall I bring him?" Theon asked from Cassandra.
"He can't do any harm, surely," Cassandra said. Theon nodded once and took off away from her.
Cassandra moved into the hall as Lord Tyrion berated Robb for not acting like a Lord. Cassandra moved up the small steps to the head table, noting Grey Wind lay underneath the table quietly. She sat down to her brother's left in the empty seat, watching as Robb tried to control his temper.
"I see your sister is joining us. Highly irregular to have a Lady join us during these meetings. Perhaps you intend on keeping an eye on her whilst your mother is away?" Tyrion wondered, unable to resist causing trouble.
"My sister is at liberty to attend these meetings if she wishes," Robb replied.
"I suppose whilst she is here then Greyjoy can't get to her," Tyrion spoke with ease. "A Stark and a Greyjoy. I never thought that would be a good combination. They're both as hot headed as each other."
"I thank you for your concern, Lord Tyrion," Cassandra said. "I am sure Theon and I shall be fine to discuss our issues amongst ourselves, without your help."
Tyrion smirked at the girl before hearing the door open again. He looked behind him, the sight of Bran on Hodor's back one which caused his mouth to gape open.
"So it is true," he whispered as Hodor stood before him. "Hello, Bran. Do you remember anything about what happened?"
"He has no memory of that day," Maester Luwin said.
"Curious," Tyrion whispered.
"Why are you here?" Robb wondered aloud, unable to contain the question. Why would Tyrion be so interested in Bran's memory? Why would he be here specifically for Bran?
"Would your charming companion be so kind as to kneel? My neck is beginning to hurt." Tyrion asked from Bran, ignoring Robb and his questions.
Hodor knelt down as Bran continued to watch Tyrion, a look of unease on his face as he did so.
"Do you like to ride, Bran?" Tyrion wondered.
"Yes," Bran snapped curtly. "Well, I mean I did like to."
"The boy has lost the use of his legs," Luwin spoke up again.
"What of it?" Tyrion wondered. "With the right horse and saddle even a cripple can ride."
"He is no cripple," Cassandra defended Bran.
"Then I am not a dwarf," Tyrion gestured to himself. "My father will rejoice to hear it. I have a gift for you." He handed over a tube of parchment. "Give that to your saddler. He will do the rest."
"Will I be able to ride?" Bran asked.
"You will," Tyrion said, the look on his face showing some of sincerity. Cassandra looked to Robb as he asked Tyrion why he would consider helping Bran. Robb went on to offer him the hospitality of Winterfell. Tyrion declined, saying that he would easily sleep inside of a brothel, before leaving them in the hall.
Cassandra watched as Bran's smile lit up the room for a moment, both her and Robb smiling at each other. The sight of Bran's happiness at riding again made both of them feel joy for the young boy. Hodor carried Bran away from the room with Theon leading them.
"Why would he help Bran?" Cassandra asked. "He could not have been the one to hurt him."
"No," Robb shook his head. "Or he could have a guilty conscience?"
"I don't know," Cassandra whispered softly. "There is something about Lord Tyrion. Why would he hurt Bran and help him? I don't understand it at all, Robb."
"Lord Tyrion will leave Winterfell in the morning," Robb said, pushing himself to stand up, his chair scraping behind him as he did so. "He is not my concern now. I cannot accuse him of a crime I am not certain he did commit."
"Wise idea," Cassandra agreed softly with her brother. "I should go to Rickon. I promised him that we would go riding this afternoon."
"It's a good job you're here," Robb informed his sister. "Rickon needs you. No doubt Bran will now he is awake. Time looking after Winterfell is long."
"You are doing a fine job, my Lord," Luwin promised Robb. The Maester stood up and bowed at the waist before moving away. "Your father would be proud."
Robb did a double take at hearing that, never before thinking what his father would have thought of the job he was doing in Winterfell. He hoped it was enough. He hoped he was doing well enough.
"He's right," Cassandra said, standing up too. She pecked Robb on the cheek. "Father would be happy if he saw how you were ruling Winterfell."
"Do you think so?"
"I know so."
...
The days seemed to pass quickly. Bran's saddle was in the process of being made, Robb was continuously making sure the running of Winterfell was smooth. Cassandra took to looking after both boys, keeping them both in her sights, refusing to do anything other than that.
She lay with Theon at night, both of them speaking of things of no relevance. She enjoyed the time she had with him. She was sure she would never grow tired of being with Theon.
"Did you hear of how the saddle for Bran's horse has been made?" Theon asked her. "They say it will be ready by the end of the week."
"I hope so," Cassandra smirked. She sat at her dresser, her brush in her hand as she pulled it through her hair. Theon was lounged on her bed, his back resting against the wooden headrest. He was dressed in his breeches and shirt, the rest of his layers deposited on the floor by her bed. Cassandra sat on a stool in her nightdress, her dark red hair flowing over her shoulders in front of her.
"Are you going to be long brushing your hair?" Theon wondered. "Surely it doesn't need that much brushing?"
"After having it pinned behind my ears all day, it is full of knots due to the wind," Cassandra complained. "If I sleep on it with knots then it will only worsen during the night."
"I can hardly understand what you are talking about," Theon informed her. "Your hair looks fine to me."
"You're male," Cassandra said, turning her head over her shoulder to look at him. "You wouldn't understand."
Theon smirked, moving from the bed as Cassandra looked back in the mirror and to her reflection. Theon dropped down behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist. She rested her head back against his shoulder as he kissed her neck quickly.
"You really are incorrigible," Cassandra muttered to him. He smirked, continuing to kiss her as she placed her brush back down on the surface of her dresser.
A knock on the door caused Theon to move away from Cassandra, his hand moving through his hair. She stood up; moving to the door and peeling it open slowly. Robb stood outside, his face one of worry and she took a sigh of relief.
"What are you doing here?" she wondered as Robb pushed past her and into the room.
He noted Theon stood in the corner, his clothes shedding slowly. The hostage moved and grabbed Cassandra's robe. He helped her to place it over her arms, keeping her warm as Robb handed her a letter.
"Mother has taken Tyrion Lannister captive on father's orders. Father has been injured by the Kingslayer. A spear through his leg."
Cassandra shook her head, reading the letter in disbelief before turning to look at Robb. Theon prised the letter from her, his own glance one of disbelief.
"What do you intend to do?" Cassandra asked her brother.
"They can't get away with this," Theon declared.
Robb said nothing for a moment, looking to his sister for a sign of direction. "I honestly do not know."
...
A/N: Thanks to Just Another Jessica, WhatsGoingOn, mari and 5daysofsummer for reviewing! Thanks to anyone who has favourited and followed! I do hope you will review!