Time seemed to pass by quickly for Cassandra. She grew larger with each passing day and her hormones were all over the place. Theon tried to keep her appeased as best as he could. Her constant need for him to bed her wasn't something he complained about. But she did moan that she was sore everywhere. Her back ached and she struggled to stand for too long. Not to mention she had Euron watching her with every passing moment.
She did not favour the way he looked at her. It was like she was a piece of meat. The truth had never been more so when he cornered her in the main hall one morning. Theon had been called away for a raven needed to be sent to Robb in the North.
"Ah, my Lady Stark," Euron drawled, taking the seat next to her which Theon normally occupied. "Pregnancy seems to cause you to grow radiant with each passing day."
Cassandra resisted the urge which came over her to roll her eyes at what she heard from him. She inclined her head and sipped on a glass of wine.
"I thank you," she drawled to him. "On the contrary, pregnancy seems to have made me drowsy more than anything else."
"Oh, no," Euron promised her. "There is something to be said about a young girl during pregnancy. Her curves become more prominent, and her beauty is enhanced. Theon must think the same. I hear gossip from the maids that he has been riding you like his horse for the past few weeks."
Cassandra kept her mouth closed at the crude statement which came from his mouth. She wanted to do nothing more than slap him herself. Euron Greyjoy was not a man to be trusted, and he was not one to be trifled with.
"I do hope my nephew has been pleasing you."
"I love Theon with all my heart," Cassandra softly spoke. "He could do nothing other than please me."
"He is no true man," Euron chuckled to her, daring to move his hand to her neck, his fingers curling there as she froze. His one good eye roamed over her body as he dared to inch closer to her. "I could please you in ways that Theon could not. Believe me, it would be my great pleasure. I've heard many have had the eldest daughter of Eddard Stark. From Ser Stevron to Ramsay Snow."
Cassandra scoffed at the final name as Euron's hand travelled down her neck.
"You would be mistaken," Cassandra snapped back, her hand curling around his wrist to stop him from moving any further. "And I would not take you to my bed if you were the last man alone in Westeros."
Euron didn't look aggrieved with her, further from it; he looked amused at the young wolf. He moved his free hand and quickly took it to move over her breast. Cassandra winced in pain as he kept his hand there, his other hand slowly following the other.
"Get off of me," Cassandra hissed at him, struggling to push herself from the chair. "Theon shall hear of this."
"By all means, tell him," Euron said, moving her breast in his hand.
The simple grey gown did nothing to flatter her figure. Cassandra winced at the movement, revulsion filling her as Euron pressed his lips against her neck, close to her ear.
"I am an Iron Islander," he whispered. "I take what is mine...and what I want."
Cassandra finally slapped him away from her. The motion caused him to turn his head before she rushed from the room, running to the furthest tower as fast as possible. She knew that she had to leave before anything further could happen. She found Theon sending a raven in record time. He turned around as soon as he heard footsteps approaching.
"Cass, what is it?" he asked of her as she pushed her arms around his neck.
"Your uncle...Theon...we need to leave...he's going to take me from you, and I cannot cope with that. Please, we need to go."
"What did he do?" Theon asked, anger boiling inside of him. He knew that he should never have trusted Euron. Deep down he knew that, but he didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe anything bad about his family, but he had come to accept that bad things did happens.
"He is disgusting," Cassandra cried out. "He claimed that he would take me for his own. I refuse to let it happen, Theon. I am a Stark. I may not be carrying my husband's child, but I do not open my legs for anyone."
"I know that better than most," Theon promised her. "Look, I shall talk to him...and...I shall take you away from here. We shall go back to the main land."
"And what shall we do?" Cassandra worried from Theon. "Is there anything left for us there?"
"We will make something," Theon promised her, running his hand down her cheek soothingly. "We can build our own life until this war passes."
"This war has been raging on for too long," Cassandra complained to Theon, taking hold of his hand in hers. He led her down the tower again, his cloak billowing behind him as he walked at a slow enough pace for Cassandra to keep up with.
"And that is why it must end soon," Theon clarified before a loud ringing noise entered his ears. Both of them turned around to look out the nearest window to them. Cassandra moved with haste to the opening as Theon stood behind her, looking over her shoulder, the sight of the ships moving something which filled him with worry.
"It is a fleet," Cassandra observed to Theon. "Look at it."
"I can see," Theon assured her. "Aye, it is a fleet alright."
"What do you think it is carrying?"
The bells continued to ring around Pyke as Theon rested his hand on Cassandra's hip.
"That is something which worries me."
...
Cassandra stood besides Theon by the long table at the front of the Great Hall. A fire blazed on in the hearth behind them, keeping the room warm and illuminating it. Cassandra looked down the rows to see Yara stood by Euron, her gaze stern and straight ahead of her as she waited for the woman to be shown inside.
Theon bowed at the waist as her silver head came into view. Cassandra gathered her skirts into her hands and curtseyed politely whilst Yara took her turn to bow. She had never dreamt of running into the fleet on her way home. She still couldn't believe what she had seen in the distance. The sight of men with the queen from across the sea. She didn't know what to think, truth be known.
Daenerys Targaryen made her way into the Great Hall, her head held high as she went. Euron took a step forwards and offered his hand out to her. She did not take it, choosing to keep her hands clasped in front of her.
"You are Euron Greyjoy," she spoke.
Cassandra stood tall next to Theon, her fingers laced into his. She didn't think that Daenerys would have such a strong voice. She looked meek and timid, clearly showing the appearances were deceptive.
"I am, my Queen," Euron said. "I have been a supporter to your claim for the Iron Throne for as long as I can remember. Only now that I am King of the Iron Islands can I aid you."
"Your ships were received with gratefulness," Daenerys assured him. "I too had been gathering my own fleet before they showed up on the shores of the Free Cities."
"Then it is my hope we can regain the Iron Throne for you."
"I see," Daenerys said. "And what is it that you want in return?"
"Why would you ask?"
"I know men," Daenerys said. "You want something in return for aid."
"All I ask is for the Iron Islands to remain in my control," Euron admitted. "And for all other false pretenders to be shown their wrongs. You have that power, my Queen. You have your dragons."
Daenerys regarded him with caution for a moment. She did have her dragons, and they were growing with each passing day. She nodded once before looking at the three people stood behind Euron. She nodded over to them, clearly intrigued as to who was greeting her.
"My Queen," Euron spoke, "my niece, Yara Greyjoy."
Yara bowed at the waist, unable to force herself to curtsey.
"My Queen," Yara said clearly.
"My nephew, Theon Greyjoy."
"My Queen," Theon echoed.
"And my nephew's whore," Euron snarled. "Cassandra Stark."
"Stark?" Daenerys arched her brow, trying to think back to what her brother had told her. Lord Eddard Stark had helped to removed the Targaryen line from the throne.
"Daughter to Lord Eddard," Euron said as Cassandra remained in her curtsey.
Daenerys turned her gaze to Euron. "You say she is whore to your nephew."
"My uncle exaggerates," Theon was the one to snap out as Cassandra dared to stand back up. Theon took hold of her hand again, his gaze level with Daenerys. "It is a long tale, my Queen."
"I do not doubt it," Daenerys said. "The Starks have been traitors to the Targaryens."
"I would not know, my Queen," Cassandra whispered.
"How old are you?"
"My eighteenth name day has just passed."
"You are a girl," Daenerys said. "Much like I was."
Daenerys had grown up. She was no longer the scared little girl she had once been. She was a woman now. She was a woman with dragons and she was ready to take back her Iron Throne.
"The Starks are not your enemies, my Queen," Cassandra dared to speak. "My brother told me so himself. He will not protest against your claim to the Throne."
Daenerys remained cautious for a moment, not too sure whether she should believe this girl or not. She supposed she had no reason to doubt her. She couldn't think of a genuine one.
"Believe me, if your brother crosses me, he shall know of it."
Cassandra bowed her head as Theon squeezed her hand.
"Perhaps you can tell me more over dinner this evening," Daenerys suggested, although it sounded more like a command. "I am sure it will be fascinating."
"As my Queen wishes," Cassandra whispered again.
Daenerys turned on her heel and resumed her talk with Euron as Theon took hold of Cassandra around the waist, leading her out from the room with haste.
"She is compassionate to those who have done nothing to hurt her," Theon said once he was out in the wet air with her. "Besides, my uncle seems occupied now. I shall keep you by my side. Once war has truly started then we shall decide what the best thing to do is."
"Do you consider leaving Pyke, even now?" Cassandra wondered. "Surely it will be the safest place with dragons roaming the skies."
"As soon as word gets out that Daenerys Targaryen is here then people will swarm to take Pyke back, Cass. If anything, it is too dangerous to be here."
"What do you suggest we do?"
"Go as soon as possible."
...
A/N: Thanks to anyone who is reading and I do hope you will review!