The Red Viper and the Tempest.
An unlikely match from the beginning.
A moment of attraction, fleeting and memorable.
A hint of vulnerability, strong and lasting.
A spark of a flame, inevitable and ruining.
In the midst of storms and poisons, tw...
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Cassandra had enjoyed feasts as much as the next lady.
When she had been but a child, she and Ashara would sneak from their chambers to witness the commencement of various feasts.
They would be dressed in their bedclothes, peering into the great hall inconspicuously as noblemen and noble ladies danced the night away.
In time, their brothers would catch them in the act and force them back to their chambers but it had been something the two girls had looked forward to growing up.
She had not yet realized at the time that these feasts were more than celebratory. Instead, they were grounds for betrothals, alliances, and even rivalry.
When she had grown up enough to attend her first feast, she was expected to dance with many noblemen, and not all of them were as charming as she thought them to be.
Robert had found it amusing as she tried not to scowl at their advances but before long, either he or Stannis would come to her rescue and request a dance so that she might have a respite from all noblemen.
After news had spread of her betrothal to Ned Stark, attending feasts had not been an obligation and she had been free to enjoy them as she should have.
It was a good thing too for King's Landing bragged many feasts from her stay there. She had loved attending feasts with Ashara and Elia, dancing with one another until they nearly dropped from exhaustion.
The thought brought a somber smile to her face as she watched the attendees of the feast dance, laugh, and fill their faces with delicious food.
Gods, if she had a clue then what she knew now, perhaps she would have fought for them to dance one more song just so she could look back on more memories with a smile.
Cassandra may have been standing with two of her brothers as they spoke of visiting their childhood home but her sights were set on the dance floor.
For a second, she could imagine three young ladies spinning to the notes of a lively song and laughing so loudly that they threatened to overtake the music.
She was overjoyed to be with her brothers once more but she missed her sisters. Being back here, to the place where they had all gotten closer, it made her miss them even more.
She thinks she will always miss them. It felt healing when she and Ashara finally reunited after the war but even if they had been friends for longer, there would always be a part of her that would miss Elia.
She could tell that Ashara felt the same way as there were times when their eyes would meet and silence would reign as if there was supposed to be a third voice chiming in to fill that silence.
Even so, she hoped that through Oberyn's actions, Elia's spirit would now be at peace. In whatever paradise she was in now, Cassandra hoped that she was smiling.
