The Stag Queen (on hiatus)

The Rebellion Begins IV

The year is 289 AC, Cassana is now four, Joffrey is two, and they expect another sibling any day. Cassana is still the same little girl she was two years ago, only now she can talk better and is a force to handle, just like her Mother and Father. Jon Arryn tells her she is like her Father in many ways, which Cassana loves. She is sitting with Septa Milah, learning the Great Houses of Westeros and their sigils and house words. It is simple enough for Cassana, who quickly pushes through the lesson. Hoping for a challenge, she asks if she may visit the Lord Hand, Jon Arryn, who always welcomes the princess with open arms. She is allowed to make her way to the Tower of the Hand. She has been there many times as she occasionally sits with the Lord Hand to hear stories of her Father and Uncle Ned. Lord Aryyn heard of her arrival and waited for her by the door to let her in. They sit and talk and read a few books from his extensive collection before they are interrupted by a messenger for the hand. Lord Arryn reads the note he was handed before requesting that Cassana be taken to her Mother immediately. She is confused but knows better than to argue and does as told.

 It wasn't till later that day that she found out what the note said and why Jon Arryn made her leave. Balon Greyjoy had crowned himself King of the Iron Islands and wished to break from the seven Kingdoms, and now her Father and Uncles were going to war. She hated that her family was going off to war, and she couldn't fight it with them. That night, she wrote a letter to her Uncle Stannis, whom she had visited months prior and had bonded with, telling him to stay safe and that she would think of him often. She had the letter sent that night, along with one to her Uncle Ned, and she hoped it would reach them before her Father sent them wherever he did. After that, she ran to look for her Father, hoping he could make her feel better about all of this; even though Robert isn't the softest for Cassana, he tries, so she knew he would make her feel better about all of this even if it wasn't okay he would make it less scary. She looks for her Father and finds him pushing wooden figures around his war table. She shuts the door to the room quietly and hopes that no one notices her gone; Cassana approaches her Father timidly. "Papa?" Robert turns at his daughter's tiny voice and leans down to her level. "Hello, little stag, what are you doing at this hour?" Cassana looks down, worried her Father will be mad at what she is about to say. "I faked sleep, then snuck out so I could come to see you." Robert chuckles and picks her up; she would do this. After all, his daughter is a spitfire and will do what she needs to do to get what she wants. They were alike in that way; it's one of the many things he loves about his daughter. Even her age, she isn't afraid to do what she wishes.

He walks over to a chair, sits down, and puts Cassana on the table. "What is wrong, love? Cassana looks up at her Father and takes a deep breath. "Do you have to go to war?" Robert looks at his daughter after this question and can see the worry in her eyes. He offers her a small smile and holds her cheek gently. "I wish I didn't, but the Greyjoys must answer for this, and war is all the Iron Born listen to." Cassana looks at her Father with confusion. "Why don't they want you to be their King? You're a good King; they should be happy like Joff and me." Robert smiles at that and hugs his daughter, marveling at how she must see the world if she thinks him to be as good as she believes. "Well, to you both, I am just your Father, but to them, I am a King, and not everyone likes a King's decisions. Balon Greyjoy deems me unfit and wants to rule on his own; your Uncles and I will show him that House Baratheon is not one to be messed with." Cassana takes her Father's words in, and she looks at him before saying, "Because ours is the fury?" Robert smiles and kisses his daughter on the forehead. "That is exactly right, my little stag. Let us put you back to bed before your Mother thinks you've run off." Cassana hops off the table and grabs her Father's hand. "Can we visit Joff before I go to bed? I didn't get to say goodnight before he went to bed." Robert smiles at her love for her brother. "Yes, but we should be quick; you both need sleep." Cassana smiles and jumps in excitement. "Thank you, papa!"