MEMORIES OF YOU (Game of Thrones)

PROLOGUE

I am the rock against which the surf crashes. Nothing can break me. I am the wind that topples castles and dampens old stones.

Cassana Baratheon was bred to destroy everything within her path. She was raised to fear none and to demand respect. Her brother, Robert, the lord paramount of Stormlands had taught her that. Although she was the youngest, left with no parents, Robert took her as his own, pleading with Brandon Stark to take care of her at Winterfell whilst he took his position. When the rebellion spurred, not only did the Stag find his little doe gone, but he found that Price Rhaegar Targaryen had taken his heart with him—the girl he loved as a daughter and his betrothed, Lyanna Stark.

"We have to take her, Rhaegar. Brandon left her with me at Riverrun, and I can not find it in my honor to leave her here with no one. Please, we will raise her as our own—", Lyanna argued, clutching to the little girl she had grown to take care of after Brandon brought her to Winterfell.

"No harm will be done to this little one, I assure you, my love. We'll take her to Dorne and protect her along with my other children. She'll be safe there, I promise you".

And soon, the estranged Prince brought the wolf into his heart and brought the doe that did not belong to him, although he had wished to have more time with her. When they arrived to Dorne, his father had called him back to squash the rebellion sparked by Cassana's brother and Lyanna's betrothed.

"I won't marry Robert. I love this little child to pieces, but not him. He is just obsessed with me, he does not know how to love me. Ned knows this. It is known he is a brute and a man filled with anger. I won't do it", Lyanna cried as she held Rhaegar's hand.

"Then I'll wed you here, before the old gods and the new. I promise I will come back. I will come back for Aemon and for Cassana. Robert does not deserve her. She's too fierce and strong for even him. She has the spirit of an ice dragon", Rhaegar finished, still holding the little doe to his chest.

And that was all he left her. Memories of him. Memories of the only loving family she ever had.

Although she was only six, she held the only mother she knew as Aemon was born. All she could hear from the Tower of Joy was screams of the perished and running footsteps. When the door was kicked open, she had grabbed Rhaegar's dagger and faced the attackers. His solemn features had rose in surprise. Out of everyone, he did not expect to find the missing doe the stormlands battled for. The image behind would also haunt him.

"It's alright, my little girl, that is my brother, Ned. Here, come", Lyanna motioned for the girl to help her as Aemon was placed in her little hands.

"Promise me Ned, you have to promise me to take care of my son. Take care of Cassana too. We loved her as our daughter. Let me take my rest with my love, let me see Rhaegar again. Please", she sobbed into her bloodied hands.

He nodded and saw as the light left her eyes. Cassana sobbed and fell to her knees, still holding little Aemon. She would not have anyone harm him. He was Lyanna and Rhaegar's only son, her brother of sorts. She stared back at Ned, she knew he was going to break one promise. He was going to leave her in the capitol all alone with her brother.

She was broken and shunned. Her relationship with the only parents she knew was taken like a secret, but she honored Aemon's parentage like an oath. Ned Stark had sent her back to King's Landing and into the lion's den. She had gasped in horror at Elia Martell's corpse alongside those two little boys— just like her—in her bedchamber's when she arrived. Rhaegar's son's. She sobbed herself to sleep that night. Her brother was due to arrive soon, but it was Renly who recieved her first into his arms.

"You are safe here, little sister. I won't have any harm come to you anymore. I swear by the old gods and the new", he said, tears in his eyes.

"Don't make me a promise you will break, please", she sobbed into his chest. His constricted at the pain laced in her words. Such a little kid had seen and experienced the worst this world had to offer. He wanted for her not to suffer anymore.