The following few days were spent with Winterfell readying itself for a wedding. It had not seen one of those in a long time. Cassandra had been forced to stand in her room, pins and needles being pushed against her skin as a dress was made for her. The dress was a colour of cream, flowing out over her legs and pinching in at her waist. Many told her how lovely she would look for Stevron. Many told her that she was lucky to have inherited her mother's beauty.
Cassandra disagreed. She didn't feel beautiful. She looked lumpy and lost in the large dress. Her head was not held high as Sansa's would have been. She spent her days performing her duties, and her nights sulking in her room.
Rickon and Bran had done anything but think about the wedding which was to take place. They watched their sister with interest, remembering how she had been happy little more than a month ago. She had been pleased to have been with Theon. And now her fate had changed.
"Lady Stark!" a maid called out on the third morning. "There has been a sighting of the Frey banners."
"How far away are they?" Cassandra wondered, her hand resting on her stomach as she sat at her dresser. Her stomach began to churn, her mind commenced to lose any coherent thought.
"A few hours, Lady Stark," the maid said. "We need to change you into your dress. Maester Luwin has summoned for the septon. By the end of the night you will be a Lady Frey."
Cassandra winced, closing her eyes as she felt a brush tug through her hair. The maid quickly set about removing the knots from Cassandra's red hair before she fixed it behind her head.
"No," Cassandra spoke as she began to pull it up. "Leave it down. I wouldn't have it like the Southern ladies."
"But-"
"-No buts," Cassandra spoke back, her voice calm and gentle. She didn't know if she could muster the energy to become angry. "I am from the North. I wish for it to stay that way."
"As so, my Lady," the maid responded. She began to pull back from the maid as soon as her hair had been brushed. Small amounts of hair were pinned back from her face, revealing her pale features. Cassandra walked through her room, hands on her hips as she heard her maid grab her dress from her wardrobe.
She spent the rest of the morning readying herself before moving to find Bran and Rickon in the courtyard. Bran sat on a seat which had been brought out for him as Rickon stood beside him. Cassandra had dismissed many of the people who were supposed to have been greeting the Frey party, choosing to greet her soon to be husband on her own. She didn't want people to see her and him.
"How are you?" Bran asked from his sister as she bent over at the waist to ruffle Rickon's hair and then plant a kiss on his forehead.
Bran could see straight through the forced smile which came his way. She nodded at her younger brother, insisting that she was fine and well.
"Lord Stevron should be here soon," she informed her brother. "The...the ceremony is to take place this afternoon. The feast afterwards should only be small. I do not believe that there will be many people at the feast. Lord Frey has not brought many people with him, or so I am told."
Bran nodded at her as she stood tall again. She pulled her hair over her shoulders, allowing it to flow down in front of her shoulders. She cupped her shaking hands in front of her, holding her fingers tightly inside each other. She inhaled quickly, trying to soothe her breathing as Luwin came to stand beside her, telling her calmly what would happen.
Cassandra vaguely listened to him. She chose to remain stuck on the spot, watching and waiting for Stevron to arrive. He did so in a few moments. He rode on a horse with a small army flanking him. He wore the colours of his house, keeping himself quiet as he scanned the row of those who waited for him.
Cassandra caught his eye after a few moments. She instantly wanted to run away from him and leave him. She would have run to stables, taken a horse and found Theon if she could. Stevron's eyes were narrowed in front of him as he climbed down from his horse. A wisp of a beard was on his chin, his face completely wrinkled and his body slender and showing its age.
Stevron's gaze focused intently on Cassandra as he drunk her in. There was no denying that she was a pretty little creature. She had long, waving hair with bright eyes. She was slim, possibly too slim for childbearing. But he would see to that.
"Lord Frey," Luwin spoke as he stepped forwards. "May I present Lady Cassandra of the House Stark?"
Cassandra stepped forwards, holding her skirts in her hands as she stood in front of Stevron. She avoided his gaze, finding herself unable to look at him for fear of weakening and crying. She dipped into a curtsey before straightening herself back out.
"Lord Stevron," she spoke his name.
"Lady Cassandra," he replied, offering her his hand. She wrapped her fingers into his bony ones, obviously wincing as he pressed his lips to her knuckles. She did her best not to look too disgusted as she dragged her hand away from his hold.
"May I present my brothers?" Cassandra asked, turning away from Stevron as she sniffed and looked at Bran and Rickon. "This is Brandon Stark, and Rickon Stark."
"Strong little boys," Stevron declared, offering to shake their hands. Bran and Rickon took them slowly, the shake strong and stern. Cassandra watched as he smiled at the boys before another two men climbed down from their horses.
"So this is the pretty little Cassandra Stark," one of them spoke, leering as Stevron turned back to look at his brothers. "Father chose well for you brother. Her hips are wide enough for childbirth. I am sure the Gods give you all the luck."
"Hold your turn, Walder," Stevron demanded. "Lady Cassandra, these are my brothers, Walder Rivers and Olyvar Frey." He informed her, motioning to each of them.
"The hospitality of Winterfell is yours, my Lords," Cassandra spoke simply. She did nothing for a few moments before she felt a hand on the small of her back. Her spine stiffened slowly at the contact which came between her and her betrothed.
"We are grateful," Stevron said as he stood beside her.
"There is nothing to be grateful for, my Lord," Luwin spoke. "If you were to follow me then we have a septon waiting for you. He intends to marry you two as soon as possible."
Cassandra closed her eyes as Luwin said it. A small chuckle escaped from Stevron's lips, the sound nervous and low.
"Yes," Stevron declared. "But I would first like to have a walk with my betrothed. I intend to have a few moments alone with her."
Cassandra's eyes widened as she took a moment to nod in agreement. Stevron offered her his arm and she dutifully took it. The two of them left the congregation which had gathered, choosing to move through the small gardens of Winterfell.
"Your mother told me of your beauty," Stevron informed her. "She did not give it justice though, my dear."
Cassandra resisted the urge to roll her eyes. His words were like what Theon would say to her. But he would mean it. He would be sincere about everything which he said to her. It would never be like this with Theon.
"I thank you, my Lord," Cassandra whispered.
Stevron sighed quickly before stopping his walk. He remained stood in front of her, his hand holding onto hers and cradling it. Cassandra looked him in the eye as he moved his other hand to her chin. His finger curled underneath it in a tender action as his eyes softened.
"I am well aware that you do not wish for this wedding."
"No, my Lord-"
"-You do not need to pretend with me, my dear," Stevron promised. "What beauty would want to marry a man of my age? I saw the way you looked at me. I have also heard the rumours which surround Winterfell."
"Which rumours would they be, my Lord?" Cassandra wondered.
"The rumour regarding the hostage of Lord Stark and his eldest daughter," Stevron said.
Cassandra didn't think that the news had travelled that far.
"My Lord...I do not...Theon..." she spoke his name, knowing that would be her downfall. Her eyes glazed over as she failed to say anything to Stevron. A weak smile played at his lips as he shook his head back and forth.
"I am not my father, Lady Stark," he promised her. "You are in love with another who is not me. I understand. But, I need you to understand that I too have a job. It is not a burden to marry a beauty such as yourself. It is no burden at all. But, I require an heir."
"I am aware," Cassandra spoke.
"I do not pretend that this marriage will be full of love. I will do my best to love you, Cassandra. I will do my best by you, as a husband should. I would expect the same behaviour from my lady wife."
Cassandra took a moment to think about what he had said before she nodded at him.
"Thank you," he spoke, leaning in to kiss her cheek. Cassandra closed her eyes as his hot breath hit her pale skin and she nodded at him. "I promise that I shall treat you well. I cannot make you forget about the Greyjoy boy, but you will have to do that yourself. It is what is required."
"I know," Cassandra meekly agreed.
"We should return to Maester Luwin," he told her, placing her arm back into his. "I suppose this ceremony should be something to get on with."
...
Theon received Cassandra's letter a day later. Lady Stark had demanded to see it, wondering why her daughter would have wrote to Theon and not to her own mother. She had snatched the letter from Theon, watching as the hostage snarled at her for such an action. Robb had read it over his mother's shoulder, looking down at the words which were meant only for Theon.
And then Catelyn saw it.
Cassandra had written how she would never forget the night which she spent with Theon. She would never forget the way he had held her and how much she did love for him.
Lady Stark screwed the letter up, the piece of paper crushed in her hands as she turned her glare to Theon. The young man found himself unable to do anything but turn red at Lady Stark's persistence to read the letter.
"You took my daughter's innocence?" Catelyn checked with Theon. Robb shook his head, his hand balled into a fist and resting on top of his head as anger took hold of him. "You took my daughter!"
"Your daughter asked me to," Theon snapped back at the woman. "Cassandra didn't know if she would see me again. She didn't...I did not take her against her will."
"And what if she is with a bastard in her belly?" Catelyn snapped, stepping closer to Theon as he held his ground, refusing to step back from the woman. Her eyes held fury and her cheeks were puffed out. Her composure had been lost.
"She hasn't," Theon promised her. "I gave her some moon tea."
Catelyn stepped back in shock at that. What had he done to her? What had he done to Cassandra? He had poisoned her little girl. He had flushed her body out and taken away her innocence.
"How dare you," Catelyn whispered. "How dare you do this to her!"
"Mother," Robb snapped before she could become any more riled up. She turned to look at Robb, her eyes wide as she wondered why her son had silenced her.
Robb turned his glare to Theon, moving closer to the friend who he knew to be like his brother.
"Cassandra consented to this."
"Of course," Theon agreed with Robb. "I would never hurt her."
"You should have known better," Robb urged him. "Do you have any idea what people will say if they found out?"
"No one will know," Theon spoke lowly. "I made sure of that. I would never do anything to hurt Cassandra. You know that, Robb."
"I know." Robb confirmed.
"Robb, you cannot possibly-" Catelyn began before being rudely cut off by her son.
"Cassandra is old enough to make her own decisions," Robb decreed. "What is done is done, mother. She will be married and no one need know of this. No one at all."
"That is it?" Catelyn checked with her son. "You do not intend to do anything?"
"What can he do?" Theon was the one to speak up. "Have my head spiked?"
"As much as I would like to see that at this moment in time, even I know it is not possible," Catelyn hissed at him, her hands in balls by her side as she glowered at Theon.
Robb inhaled sharply. "There is nothing that I can do, mother. Theon...it is in the past. I am sure Cassandra is suffering enough now without you writing to her to air your disgust."
Catelyn took a deep breath and shook her head, pointing her finger at Theon as the ward tried to hide an amused look from the threatening he was to receive.
"Mark my words, Theon Greyjoy," she hissed. "You shall not go anywhere near my daughter again. I swear on the Old Gods and the New Gods."
Theon managed to hold his tongue. She couldn't tell him what to do. Theon was no Stark. Besides, he kept quiet for Robb's sake. He knew that Robb would be displeased with him. He was well aware of that. But he understood. He didn't like it. But he did understand.
"Cassandra knew what she was doing," Theon told Robb.
"I don't wish to speak of it," he replied hastily to the hostage. "It is done now, is it not?"
"Aye," Theon agreed and moved from the tent. "It is."
...
Cassandra rested her head on the pillow the following morning, thinking of what had happened the previous day. It managed to bring a tear to her eye. She had been in a flurry the entire time, trying to keep her head held high as people whispered around her. They whispered how she was worth far much more than being given to a Frey. Some said that this marriage would save her honour after whispers of the young Greyjoy boy taking it from her.
She recalled how Stevron had draped his cloak around her shoulders, promising to take her under his protection. The cloak had felt heavy on her shoulders, a persistent weight which would never be lifted now that she had been married off.
Sitting beside her lord husband's side had not been too bad. It had been the crude comments from his siblings which had hurt her the most. They had whispered vile things across the table. Things which Bran and Rickon could hear. Cassandra had lost her temper in the end, telling them to remain quiet or she would see to it that they did not have a bed to rest in that night. Stevron had smirked at the temper of his wife as his brother's looked scandalised. He told them to shut up before he stood, offering Cassandra his hand.
She had taken it, her breathing erratic as she realised what he was asking from her. He had walked her out of the hall and to her own room, his hands tenderly removing the clothing from her body before his lips ran along her neck. Cassandra had made sure that her eyes had been closed the entire time, her lips parted as soft pants escaped them whilst he took her.
He finally finished, collapsing on top of her as he kissed her neck, his hand resting on her stomach. His fingers ran along her cold skin as he urged her to open her eyes. She found him staring into her before he spoke.
"You are no virgin."
Breath caught in her throat as she saw his hand move to her neck and he rolled off from her.
"You did not bleed."
"My horse-"
"-You need not lie," he assured her simply. "The red marks on your neck which you hide so well show me enough. I am far too old to concern myself with whether my bride is innocent or not."
Cassandra kept quiet, rolling onto her side, her back facing him. Stevron seemed to understand that she was in no mood for the conversation which he wanted to hold with her. He moved closer to her, his arm wrapping around her bare waist and resting on her stomach, his fingers splaying over her pale skin.
"All that matters is that you carry my child inside of you," he whispered in her ear, kissing her shoulder before he closed his eyes, his hand still possessively holding her.
...
Cassandra's days were the same for the following few weeks. She would try to avoid Stevron for as long as possible during the day, and then retire to bed late at night after spending her time with Bran and Rickon. She read to them to get them to sleep, and even continued to read to them whilst they were sleeping. When she finally retired he would ask her the same question all the time. He wanted to know if she was with child.
And never was the answer yes.
She sent ravens to Theon, longing for him to reply to one of them. He never did. She wondered if he was getting them. She wondered if he knew how she felt at all. Did he think she would abandon him? She sincerely hoped not.
Robb sent word occasionally, never once mentioning Theon. He told her how they had captured the Kingslayer before he revealed the news which took her breath away.
Her father had been executed.
Cassandra had dropped the letter from her hands, sinking to her knees as she began to wonder what she was to do. The last time she had seen her father had been before he rode for King's Landing. She shook her head, tears falling from her eyes as she remembered Robb's words. He would kill them. He would kill each and every Lannister who he found. Cassandra wanted that. Her sadness overcame her when she realised that she would have to tell Bran and Rickon.
"My lady wife."
Cassandra looked up from her bed to Stevron who had entered their chambers. His face was sombre as he sat beside her.
"Maester Luwin received a letter from King's Landing...he told me of the news...your father..."
"Is dead," Cassandra spoke, the words hollow on her tongue. "Bran and Rickon...do they know?"
"Luwin deemed it necessary to tell them. He will sit by them whilst they grieve, like I sit by you now."
"I should go to them," Cassandra said, making her move to leave. Stevron moved quickly, his hand wrapping around her wrist to stop her from moving away from him.
"No," he said quickly. "You need time to grieve too."
"I can grieve with the boys," she promised him. "They need me."
"I need to speak with you," Stevron declared to her. "The death of your father has greater implications than we first thought, my dear."
Cassandra's brows furrowed as she heard him speak. The tears stopped rolling down her cheeks as she looked across to him, wondering what he was even talking about. He placed his hand on her side, looking down as he spoke.
"The death of your father means a fully blown out war between the Lannisters and the Starks. You know this as well as I do. My father is willing to support the Starks so long as the requirements he set out are successful." He spoke softly to her. "If not, then he is willing to back the Lannisters. Your brother needs our house's support."
"The deal has been completed," Cassandra replied hastily. "I have married you. My brother marries one of your sister's soon enough."
"Alas, this is true," he agreed with her. "But, there has been no child to name heir, Cassandra."
Cassandra stuttered for a moment, wondering how he could think of that at such a time.
"Perhaps I am infertile?" Cassandra wondered from him.
"I have taken you only once," Stevron informed her, his fingers moving down her cheek, tickling against her skin. She stiffened as his fingers came to the front of her dress, tugging at the laces which kept it in place.
"Every night you come to me late. You come to me and leave me whilst I sleep." Stevron reminded her. "I know that you do not care for me. Yet you promised to obey me."
"My father has just died," Cassandra drawled, swatting his hand from her laces. "Forgive me if I am not in the mood at this moment in time."
"You are never in the mood," he replied to her. "You make sure of that. Your father's death makes you weak, my dear. My father grows tired and impatient with our lack of progress."
"How can your father be so shallow?" Cassandra wondered. "How can he threaten to take his forces from my brother because I am not pregnant?"
"You have not met my father," Stevron told her. "He is not a patient man."
"Obviously," Cassandra snarled. "This is ridiculous. I am honouring the agreement. It is not my fault that I am not with child."
"It is your fault when you refuse to even try to become with child," Stevron promised her. "My father shall find that out soon enough. He sent some of his men. His men enjoy nothing more than spying. You need to let me have you, Cassandra."
"No," Cassandra replied. "I can't...not...not now..."
"If not now then when?" Stevron asked her. "If I let you leave now then I know you will not return until it is too late. You know my strength is not what it was. Do this to keep your brother safe. Don't let my father abandon him. You know he would be weak then. Him and your mother. Even Theon."
"Don't mention his name!" Cassandra snapped.
"If it is the only way to keep you here then I shall mention his name as much as I can," he promised her. She shook her head, disgust taking over her as she did so. Stevron moved slowly, his hands resting on her shoulders as he pulled her dress from them.
"You have to keep them safe, my love," he whispered before his fingers tugged at the laces of her dress again. "I have been lenient up until today. Now, you must let me take you...until we know you are with child."
Cassandra said nothing as she thought of her father. He would never have done this to her. He would have made sure that she was happy. He would have done that for her.
Stevron made quick work of ridding her of her gown, hauling her to her feet as it pooled to her ankles. She said nothing as he gazed over her, her own eyes looking over his shoulder.
"Good girl." He spoke gently before kissing her cheek and she waited for it to be over with.
...
Theon continued to receive letters from Cassandra. He read each one with intent, his eyes scanning over the words as he wondered what would become of her in the future. She told him of how she was not yet with child. How she tried to avoid her husband every waking moment of the day. She said that he treated her well. He was not cruel or mean. He was simply persistent.
The news of the death of her father had been one which had broken her further. Theon wished he had been there to hold her to him. He wished he could have been the one to comfort her instead of Stevron Frey.
But Theon never wrote back to her. He never replied even though she begged him to. What could he say? What could he honestly say to make everything better for her? Words could not take him back to her. He needed a plan of attack. And that was what he intended to do. Robb had been declared the King in the North and Theon had declared his allegiance to him. It was not Robb with who he had a query with.
Theon folded up Cassandra's letter to him and tucked it into his cloak.
"A word, your grace," Theon spoke as soon as he stood beside Robb.
Robb turned to look at his friend as Theon continued to stare out into the camp.
"You don't have to call me your grace when no one's around," Robb assured him.
"It's not so bad," Theon promised lightly, "once you get used to it."
"I'm glad someone's gotten used to it." Robb commented.
"The Lannisters are going to reject your terms, you know?"
"Of course they are."
"You can fight them in the fields as long as you like," Theon spoke. "We won't beat them until we take King's Landing. We can't take King's Landing without ships. My father has ships and men who know how to sail."
"Men who fought my father."
"Men who fought King Robert to free themselves from the South. Just like you're doing now."
Robb remained silent, listening to what Theon was offering him.
"I'm his only living son," Theon spoke. "He'll listen to me. I know he will."
Theon took a deep breath after a moment before continuing.
"I know I am not a Stark, Robb," he assured him. "I know that I am not one of you. I know that you resent me for all that I have done...Cassandra...she does not deserve a life with a man who does not love her. She does not deserve that."
"What do you ask for in return?" Robb enquired from Theon. "You want something for your allegiance."
"Not something," Theon said. "I just want her. When you win this war then I want permission to go back North with you and take Cassandra. I would take her back to the Iron Islands with me. No one would know of it. We could fake her death...tell them she ran...anything to get her away from the Frey man."
"That's madness," Robb shook his head.
"No." Theon replied. "Madness is what she is going through now. You know that I would look after her."
"My mother would never agree."
"I am not asking your mother," Theon shook his head. "I am asking you. You know how unhappy she is, Robb. Do you want that for her?"
"I do not know anything of her," Robb said, turning to look to the sky. "She refuses to write to me."
Theon sighed and moved his hand into his pocket, pulling the letter from her out. Robb watched him for a second as he glanced down at her scrawl.
"She writes to me," Theon said, handing him the letter. Robb began to read over it, hearing of how miserable his sister was. "I can never reply to her. I do not know what to say, Robb. I never know what to say to her...how can I write and tell her that I will come back for when I can't?"
Robb finished reading the letter and closed his eyes, his face full of sadness as he did so.
"Why ask my permission to take her?" Robb wondered from Theon.
"You are like a brother to me, Robb," Theon said. "I want your permission. You know that I can look after her."
Robb said nothing for a moment, his head shaking back and forth as he looked to the ground.
"She would never forgive me if I didn't agree to this." Robb declared and Theon felt excitement rise up inside of him. "We keep this between us, Theon. No one can know what shall happen in the future."
"Aye," Theon nodded in agreement.
"Especially my mother," Robb warned him. "She would kill me if she knew of this plot."
"I don't intend to tell her," Theon said, resting his hand on Robb's shoulder and taking his letter back. Robb moved his hand to Theon's shoulder and nodded firmly at him.
"Be safe," Robb encouraged him.
"You too," Theon said.
Robb quickly hugged the hostage tightly, unable to do anything else. He didn't know if he could win or not. He would try his best to do just that.
"Go," Robb urged Theon. "I trust you, Theon. You're like a brother to me."
"And you, Robb," Theon agreed before turning on his heel and moving through the camp, a smug smirk on his face.
He would manage this. He would go to Pyke and persuade his father. And then he would take Cassandra.
...
A/N: So many reviews last night! Thank you all so much! Reviews shall be slightly more constant as I come to the end of my exams. So thank you to WhatsGoingOn, mari, dudleygirl, cgluv, duchess123, Guest and starrysky7 for reviewing. Do let me know what you think!