"You're disgusting."

Theon Greyjoy looked across to where the voice had come from, his brow arched as he watched the young woman move alongside him. He had been into the town outside of the castle of Winterfell, his own agenda to stick to as he walked with purpose. He always felt much better after his time with Ros. She was the one woman who could actually satisfy him in the North.

The voice had suddenly crept up on him, causing him to look to the side where she was walking. Her hood covered her face, keeping her hidden from prying eyes who may recognise her. Theon arched a brow as her stern gaze found his and he chuckled deeply at seeing her look of disgust.

"Come along, Cassandra," Theon spoke, daring to nudge her in the stomach as she walked by his side. "You won't satisfy my needs. I need someone to do it."

"You're disgusting," Cassandra replied to him, rolling her eyes. "If Robb heard you speak like this then what do you think he would do?"

"I'd like to see him try and do something," Theon said, picking up Cassandra's hand and dropping it on his arm. She groaned as he made the motion, but she knew it was a moment of gallantry from him. It happened occasionally. "Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if you attacked me first. I heard how you and Lady Arya were found to be dangerous with needles during your class."

"We were hardly dangerous," Cassandra replied to him as she pushed her hood from her head. The two of them entered the gate into the walls and looked around, wondering where everyone was on that day. "Arya is much more dangerous with a bow and arrow in comparison to us."

"I would doubt that," Theon said and Cassandra shook her head, a small smile on her face as she looked to the ground. Theon looked at her once more, seeing the typical Stark features on her. She had their strong looks, yet she had her mother's gaze and hair colour. Her hair fell in waves down her shoulders. She wore it loose and untamed.

"Anyway," Theon changed the conversation topic, "what were you doing outside the safety of these walls?"

"I needed some string for my dress," Cassandra said. "Mother said that I should simply throw the gown away."

"And you couldn't?" Theon wondered from her. "Surely that is a chance for a new dress?"

"Surely it is," Cassandra agreed with him as they passed the servants who continued to stare at the pair of them. The servants enjoyed to talk. They enjoyed speaking of gossip and rumours. Cassandra had shook her head at the mutters. There had been talk of the eldest Stark girl and the Iron born Greyjoy becoming closer.

"But I like the old dress."

"Which one is it?" Theon wondered slowly.

"The green one with the flowers," Cassandra replied and chuckled. "Anyway, I doubt you're interested in my needlework."

"You're right. I'm not," Theon said and Cassandra hit him around the top of the head. Theon chuckled, moving his hand over his head and scratching his scalp as she smirked. They finally stopped moving as they came to the archery range. Theon dropped Cassandra's hand from his arm before he saw Robb Stark stood at the range. His bastard brother stood to his side, holding the bow and arrow and shooting at the target.

"I doubt Snow could hit the board, never mind hitting the target," Theon called out, making his presence known. Robb and Jon turned around, the eldest Stark folding his arms over his chest as he noticed his sister in the background.

"Mother's been looking for you," Robb informed Cassandra who arched a brow. She knew it couldn't possibly be good news. It never was good news if her mother wanted to see her. She groaned for a second as Jon grinned and hit the target, silencing Theon and his comments.

"Do you know what she wants?" Cassandra wondered, moving over to Robb who stood beside Theon. She held her hands together in front of her, her eyes full of inquiry as Theon watched the two siblings speak.

"She said that you needed fitting for a new gown," Robb said. "Honestly, what you and mother argue about is nothing to do with me."

"We're not arguing," Cassandra denied. "She won't let me fix my gown. I had to go and find some thread."

"You left the walls?" Robb checked and Theon turned around, watching as Jon hit the target.

"I only went into the town," Cassandra said. "Besides, I was lucky to find Theon wandering away from the brothel."

Both boys turned to look at Theon, an air of disgust on their faces as they did so. Jon felt particularly strongly about what Theon did. He would have no idea what would happen if he managed to get Ros pregnant. He didn't care either. He was reckless and he didn't care for anyone else.

"You couldn't wait to open your big mouth, could you?" Theon snapped at her, his gaze stern yet a look of amusement was held in his eyes. She said nothing to him but simply smirked.

"You know how father feels about you going there, Theon," Robb complained to the hostage of Winterfell.

"And it is with good reason," Jon decided to say, finding another arrow before Cassandra heard the shrill voice of her mother from above. She winced, closing her eyes as the boys continued to look around at her with amusement.

"Cassandra Stark!" Lady Stark snapped at her eldest daughter. "Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you. What have I told you about wandering off?"

"I didn't," Cassandra lied to her mother, turning her head over her shoulder. She looked into her mother's stern gaze whilst Robb nudged her shoulder, urging her to go and talk to their mother instead of simply yelling at her. "I've been here. Obviously you just didn't look here."

"Now you've done it," Theon muttered under his breath, his hand covering his mouth to stop Lady Stark from seeing the smirk which was entertained on his pale face. Cassandra saw her mother ground her teeth together, her jaw locking as she realised she should just go up and apologise. Robb rested his hand on her shoulder, shoving her in the direction of the stairs.

She walked slowly up them, coming onto the walkway above the archery range as her mother turned to face her. Catelyn Stark had dropped her hand onto her hip, her cloak flying out behind her as Cassandra timidly made her way over to her.

"Sorry, mother," Cassandra spoke. "I shouldn't have spoken out of turn."

"No," Catelyn agreed. "You shouldn't have spoken to me like that. Where have you been?"

Cassandra sighed, knowing full well that lying would not get her out of trouble. Her mother could tell when she was lying. She always could do. Cassandra and Bran were terrible at lying whilst Theon was the master of it. She supposed it was in his iron blood.

"I went into town," Cassandra admitted.

"I could have had a servant go for you. Winterfell prides itself on being safe, but not everywhere is without crime, Cassandra."

"I know, mother," Cassandra said. "But I needed the thread. I needed a walk too. I managed perfectly fine. Nothing happened and Theon found me on the way back."

"Cassandra," Catelyn sighed, shaking her head back and forth. She looked down to the ground whilst her daughter remained stood where she was, her hands cupped together and resting on her stomach as she waited for her mother to say something. "No doubt he was coming from the whorehouse?"

"Probably," Cassandra admitted. Catelyn took that as a complete positive answer to her question.

"You shouldn't be near that Theon Greyjoy," Catelyn hissed, looking down to where the boys joked and laughed together. Her eyes settled on Winterfell's hostage and she shook her head, sighing deeply as she did so. She didn't trust any of the Greyjoys, never mind Theon. She didn't like the fact that he often went to a brothel. It did sicken Catelyn slightly. Not as much as it scared her to think that her daughter was often found with him.

"Theon is like a brother to Robb," Cassandra spoke. "Honestly, I've heard the whispers mother."

"Then you should know that you shouldn't strengthen the whispers," Catelyn replied and Cassandra snorted in an unladylike fashion. She ran a hand through her hair, gathering it in her fingers and pushing it over her shoulder.

"I am serious, Cassandra," Catelyn said. "I would prefer it if you stayed away from Theon."

"That's hard to do when he lives with us," Cassandra said. Catelyn stopped with the conversation, knowing that it would lead nowhere important. Her daughter rarely listened to her, regardless of what she wanted from her.

"Just listen to me, Cassandra," Catelyn pleaded with her daughter. "Anyway, the dressmaker is here to make you a new gown for formal occasions."

"When do we have formal occasions?"

"Rarely," Catelyn admitted, beginning to walk forwards as her daughter walked by her side. "But a dress is always needed. Now, come along, we don't have all day."

...

Cassandra moaned and groaned as she left her chamber in the gown she had come in. Her blue gown which she wore was so much more comfortable in comparison to the one which had been made for her. She had been prodded with pins for what seemed like hours on end. It had become beyond annoying. She ran a hand down her arm, walking without her cloak on her shoulders.

"How much trouble did you get in?" Robb's voice called out as he walked down the hallway and found his sister walking towards the main hall. Cassandra turned around and looked back at him. He allowed her a soft smirk before looking at the old gown which she wore.

"Not a lot," Cassandra said. "Mother spent most of the time telling me to stand still. You have no idea how much it hurts to be constantly prodded with pins."

"Thank the Gods," Robb smirked at her and she said nothing for a few moments as they walked slowly down the hallway to dinner that evening. "At least you're not in trouble."

"I imagine so," Cassandra said. "She spent most of the time talking about how I should stay away from Theon Greyjoy. She thinks I have a futile fancy on him."

"Do you?" Robb wondered. "He's not really husband material. And he is a hostage."

"And he is Theon," Cassandra emphasised. "Honestly, Robb, you're as bad as mother is."

"I just want to make sure, Cassandra." Robb declared. "Anyway, father shall not be joining us this evening. He is busy in meetings. Mother has also said she is not hungry."

"I take it that means you're head of the table?"

"It means nothing. I doubt I'll be able to control Arya when she decides to annoy Sansa."

Cassandra chuckled before moving alongside Robb and into the main hall. It was empty of servants for they had already laid the goods out for the Stark family. Cassandra sat beside Robb at the head of the table before she heard the jovial tune of Arya's voice enter her ears. The youngest Stark girl sat beside her whilst Sansa sat opposite. Bran and Rickon took to sit beside Sansa whilst Jon sat next to Arya. Theon took a seat next to Jon at the end of the table.

"I hear that mother had a new dress made for you today," Sansa spoke to Cassandra. She looked up from the chicken which she had been chewing and nodded in agreement.

"Did you not have one?"

"Mother says I have plenty of gowns." Sansa spoke. "I manage to fix all of mine up to make them look new."

"So do I," Cassandra said.

"Your needlework is hardly straight," Arya commented. "I even think mine is better."

Robb chuckled at hearing that whilst Cassandra remained silent, refusing to snap back at her younger siblings taunts. She continued to eat in silence, excusing herself before anyone else had finished. She made her way out the grand hall, her skirts in her hands as she moved silently.

Jon watched as Theon stood too, excusing himself and moving from the room before he could say anything or Robb could catch his eye. The half brothers exchanged a look at each other, both of them knowing full well where Theon was going to. Robb had noticed the change in him for a while, constantly watching his sister and always being by her side. Yet he still went to brothels and acted normally around Cassandra.

"You always come here when you're thinking," Theon commented when he found Cassandra in the Broken Tower. She stood at the top of it, looking down over the ground of Winterfell, her arms folded in the cold air as she did so. He came to stand behind her, resting his shoulder against the wall as he watched her hair sway in the breeze.

"Since when did you know me so well?" she wondered from him which earned a chuckle.

"I've known you well for a long time," Theon said. "What's playing on your mind?"

"Everything and nothing," she complained to him. "Mother has spoken of marriage to me once again. She considers it time that I find a husband. Of course she will make sure he is suitable."

"You're seventeenth name day has just passed," Theon reminded her. "It is only right that you find someone to take care of you."

"I know," Cassandra said. "I just don't need taking care of. I am certain I can make it on my own."

"You can't live with your parents all your life, can you?" Theon replied and Cassandra snorted at the thought. "I know you. You've dreamt of travelling. But there are dangers out there. It's no place for a woman."

"You have little faith in me," Cassandra said, turning around to look at him with a sly smile. He watched her back for a moment, his hand running through his hair before he came to stand beside her, looking out and over Winterfell as he did so.

"You won't run away, will you?"

"I've thought about it," Cassandra whispered in the darkness, her lips barely parting to allow the words to escape from them. Theon took a moment to think about what he was hearing from her lips. He knew she was scared. She was scared of marriage and of finding a husband who treated her badly. So many of them did in Westeros.

"But I wouldn't get too far, would I? Besides, I couldn't break mother and father's heart by running off. I don't want to hurt them."

"But you're willing to stay here and marry someone you don't want to?" Theon checked with her. "You really are brave, aren't you?"

"Don't mock me," Cassandra snapped at him. "It's rude."

"I'd hate to come across as rude," Theon drawled, obviously sarcasm in his tone.

"Just cocky," Cassandra replied. "Anyway, why did you leave dinner?"

"I saw you'd come out here. I didn't want you crying all by yourself, did I?" Theon replied and she rolled her eyes, shivering in the cold as he dared to move his arm to wrap around her waist.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he pressed his hand into the small of her back, pressing her flush against his chest.

"Trying to keep you warm," Theon declared. "Unless you'd rather freeze up here?"

"Or I could go back down to warmth?"

"You could," Theon agreed, "but you're much better looking when you're brooding up here."

"Is this a joke to you?" Cassandra wondered, trying to pull back from him. He shook his head, the smirk back on his face as he did so.

"I know you Starks don't like jokes," Theon assured her.

"We like ones that are funny," Cassandra said. "You're just not that funny."

"I'm Iron born," Theon said. "I'm a serious man. One day I'll rule over the Iron Islands."

"You're a hostage, Theon," Cassandra reminded him. "You've been raised in Winterfell among us. Why would you even want to contemplate leaving?"

"Iron is in my veins," Theon told her and she shook her head, her eyes looking to the ceiling above her as she did so. "Besides, when I am Lord of the Iron Islands then I shall require a Lady."

"I can only imagine what a lucky girl she would be," Cassandra said, a small smirk on her face as Theon smirked, bending down so he could stare at her.

"She could be you," Theon said.

Cassandra felt her blood suddenly turn cold at what she had heard. Theon studied her, the usual trace of cockiness leaving his face as she backed away from his hold, shaking her head back and forth as she begun pacing up and down the stone floor.

"Do not be silly, Theon." Cassandra demanded from him.

"I'm not," Theon said. "If you are so scared of marriage then marry me. Your father knows that I would look after you. One day I shall rule."

"No, you won't," Cassandra replied to him. "You're a hostage. Father would never allow it. Mother definitely would not."

"I could talk to them."

"You'd be wasting your breath."

"You talk as if you do not wish to marry me," Theon said and Cassandra felt her eyes grow wide before turning to look at him again. His face was stern and one of anger, a sight which she rarely saw on him. "Am I not good enough for you? Is that it?"

"No," Cassandra said. "We've been raised together. Surely marriage would feel odd."

"I disagree," Theon said to her. "You know things have changed, Cassandra. You just refuse to acknowledge it."

"Can you blame me?" Cassandra wondered from him quickly. "I know that nothing can happen. I tire of the whispers which pass around. I tire of my mother constantly telling me to stay away from you. I know full well that things have changed in the past few months."

"Then I really cannot see what your issue is," Theon told her simply. "Many women would swoon to have me."

"Then why don't you go and find them?" Cassandra wondered. Theon pushed a hand through his hair, his head shaking back and forth as he did so.

"Because I am asking you. I try to be kind to you and this is how you repay me?" Theon wondered.

"I can't mean that much to you, Theon," Cassandra said. "You're still out with your whores as often as possible."

"That means nothing," Theon replied. "Gods, Cassandra, I cannot believe you are bringing it up."

"I may mean as much to you as your brothels do," Cassandra said. "I don't know anything, Theon. I do know that we cannot do anything. Nothing can happen for no good shall come of it. My parents would never let me marry you."

"You're the one who seems most set against it," Theon drawled at her.

"Did you not listen to me?" Cassandra wondered. "It will never happen."

"Because I am not good enough," Theon concluded. "I never have been. I've been raised by your side. I've learnt what you have. I've done what you have. But, I am no Stark. I am not good enough to your family. I know that. I always have known that. But thank you for affirming it, Cassandra."

"Theon," Cassandra complained as he pushed past her and moved into the stairwell. She stomped her foot on the ground before taking off after him, catching up with his swirling cloak on the spiral staircase. She grabbed hold of his shoulder, losing her balance as Theon caught her waist, holding her on the same step as him.

"You are treated as well as all of us," Cassandra said to him. "I don't think I'm better than you. You know father has raised you as well as he has done Robb and Jon."

"Aye," Theon agreed, "but they've always been one step ahead of me. I don't belong here, Cassandra. I never have done."

"You do," Cassandra urged him. "Don't talk like that."

"Then if you think like you do," Theon paused and allowed her to nod. "Then you should have no issue in me asking your father for your betrothal."

"No," Cassandra replied. "Theon, we don't love each other."

"We could come to," Theon promised her simply. "I already care for you."

"But that's not love," Cassandra said to him.

"And you know what love is?" Theon wondered and she shook her head. "Then don't stand there and spout to me, Cassandra."

She said nothing for a moment, looking over his shoulder and to the brickwork which stood there. She could feel his grip increase on her waist, his hands curling around her sides as she said nothing. He waited patiently for some word to come from her lips. Some word to fall from her mouth. But she said nothing.

"I offer to help," Theon said, "and you still think you can do better."

He pushed her back from him, moving down the steps as she remained where she was, not bothering to go after him. He rushed with haste, anger coursing through his veins as he did so. He knew he had begun lusting after Cassandra. He didn't know when it had started but it certainly had done. But she was too prim and proper sometimes. He had offered her help and she had denied it.

He didn't love her. Theon knew nothing of love. He knew only of lust. But he knew that there was something more than that when it came to Cassandra. He just didn't know how deep it would stem in the future.

...

A/N: I admit that I developed a soft spot for Theon and so voila! Here we go. Literally cannot stop writing fics at the moment. Anyway, if you're reading then please do review. I know I've thrown these two together quickly but there is method behind the madness!