Cassandra Baratheon

Son - Arrec Baratheon

Daughter - Oraella Baratheon

**Cassandra Baratheon** (née Wylde) is the Lady of Storm's End, and wife of Arlan Baratheon. She is the only daughter of Rymund and Shiera Wylde (née Connington).

Cassandra admires her son, Durran, for being an honourable young man, who's grown into a knightly lord under the tutelage of Garth Tyrell. Her relationship with Arrec is more tumultuous, the main source of tension coming from Arrec's close relationship with Ardan Storm, whom Cassandra has loathed for years.

## Appearance

In her younger years, Cassandra has a petite and slender form. However, after three children, she has grown into a more curvaceous and womanly figure, with a generous chest and wide hips. Cassandra has long curls of red hair that she inherited from her mother, falling past her shoulders and reaches the middle of her back. Cassandra has round eyes of a seafoam green, a fair complexion, and skin that is delicate and smooth to the touch.

Cassandra is an attractive woman, with refined features. She has a high brow, full lips and sharp cheekbones, with a chin that comes to point. Freckles are dotted around her shoulder and breasts.

## Biography

### Backstory

#### Childhood

Cassandra Wylde spent her earliest year as many noble ladies do: locked at the hip to her mother. Cassandra had always been close Sheira, seeing her as the most beautiful and kind-hearted woman in the world. Her father, Rymund, had been named Master of Coin early in Cassandra's life, and as a consequence, spent most of his time in the capital, tending to his duties on the Small Council. Shortly after her seventh name day, Rymund arrived at Rain House and told her that she would be joining him in King's Landing, to introduce her to the courtly world.

#### Life in the Capital

Cassandra Wylde found herself moved to the hustle and bustle of the capital, where dragons roamed the skies and the country was run. Cassandra fell in love with the sights, smells and sounds. Being the daughter of the Master of Coin, Cassandra lived a comfortable life in the Red Keep, rubbing shoulders with the progeny of some of the most powerful families in Westeros. The capital seemed to agree with the young Wylde girl. And as she began to grow, she blossomed into a fine beauty and her father set about making a match for her.

After close to a year of negotiations, Rymund managed to arrange a royal marriage to Maelor Targaryen in 130 AC. However, four months after their betrothal, it was revealed that Rymund had fathered over sixteen bastards by more than five different women, include Erryn Celtigar's daughter. The scandal ruined Rymund's name, causing Cassandra's betrothal was broken off. After that, Rymund was quietly exiled to his home and forced to take his daughter with him, his reputation in tatters and his family forever shamed.

#### Return to the Stormlands

Rymund was forced to rush a new betrothal for his daughter, so as to not stand alone against the new army of enemies he had made. In a great stroke of luck, Rymund managed to secure a marriage pact with House Baratheon at the cost of a generous dowry, one which nearly bankrupted his family in the process.

#### Lady of the Stormlands

> "*He was a pillar of sun-kissed skin and muscle, with piercing blue orbs, flowing pitch-black hair and a groomed beard covering his jaw. He was as handsome as Maelor Targaryen, she had thought. Maybe even moreso.*" - Memories of Cassandra Baratheon.
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Cassandra had heard stories of Arlan Baratheon: a Stormlander raised among their historic enemies, the Dornish. A lecherous giant of a man, one who prided himself on parting young maidens from their purity and mated more like a beast than any human. When Cassandra first laid her innocent eyes on her groom to be after arriving at the bleak and dreary Storm's End, she found he did not look the part of the ravaging beast.

The wedding ceremony was a quick one, and soon Cassandra found herself sitting beside her new husband as their guests feasted and laughed. Cassandra was shy at first, barely able to meet her husband's gaze, much less talk to him, but Arlan proved to be a kind man. He spoke softly to his new wife, complimenting her beauty and grace.

Not even half a year after her wedding, Cassandra was soon with child. It was a hard pregnancy, for Cassandra's body struggled to bear the stresses of her first child. The baby endured inside her for nine long months, until finally Durran Baratheon entered the world. The birth was long and arduous, taking six months for Cassandra to fully recover from it.

A year after she birthed Durran, she received a raven from Rain House: Her mother, Sheira, had died. Cassandra believes that Rymund's betrayal had caused her demise, as Shiera had thrown herself from the walls of Rain House. In time, Cassandra began to heal, thanks in no small part to her son, Durran.

#### The Bastard of Storm's End

With the death of her mother, Cassandra became even more dedicated to her family. She grew into a proud mother and a diligent wife, though Cassandra still knew of Arlan's reputation: When it came to sex, she would never be enough to sate his appetites. At first this was something that infuriated her, she would try to accommodate his needs as best she could, but the man was raised by the Dornish, those queer and salacious people. She would never be able to give him everything he needed, so, she allowed him his vices. When he left to court, or to tourneys, she knew he would not be spending his nights alone. A fact that Cassandra came to accept, after all, no matter who Arlan took to bed, she was his wife, the one who gave him children! Who loved him and was loved by him in return.

Durran was five, and Cassandra was heavy with child again, being eight months pregnant. Arlan had been gone for three months, in Sunspear, the Torrentine and the Marches, but at last he was returning home. Cassandra was standing in the yard of Storm's End, watching Durran play soldier, when Arlan entered with a wetnurse, a swaddled dark-haired babe in her arms. Instantly, Cassandra knew whose child it was. Arlan introduced the boy as Ardan Storm, his bastard son. Suddenly, pain arched up her body, her shock and rage sending her straight into labor. To this day, it remains the worst pain the Lady of Storm's End has ever experienced. After a long and bitter birth, Cassandra finally brought Arrec into the world.

It was soon after this that Arlan revealed his intentions to raise Ardan among his trueborn children.

As Ardan grew, she made it clear to him exactly what he was, and exactly where he stood in the hierarchy of her family. She was needlessly cruel to the boy, both with words and actions.

Still for however little it might've been worth, she never dared to lay a finger upon him.

### *The Reign of Dragons*

Cassandra is with Maester Rickard when Arrec's leg is being examined. She also advises Durran to accept the crown's proposal and accept the betrothal to Princess Rhaenerys Targaryen, however, upon hearing that her son intends to wed Oraella to Tristifer Tully, she begins to voice her anger at him trying to wed her to someone else at such a young age, and to a man with bastards too. When Durran reveals his plan to try and leverage the Tully's against the Lannisters, to try and strong-arm Roland Lannister into accepting a betrothal between Oraella and his nephew, Cassandra ridicules her son and strikes him, criticises his plans. Durran threatens to place her under house arrest if she strikes him again and leaves. Cassandra looks up to see Arrec has witnessed the whole exchange. Though still furious with Durran, Cassandra is right beside him when Rhaenerys Targaryen and those with her arrive at Storm's End. Upon running into Ardan while consorting with her handmaids, she bids him to eat with the dogs rather than show his face before the attending members of the royal family. She then privately tries to remind Rhaenerys of her place as a Westerosi woman and Durran's soon-to-be-bride after a crass remark is made relating to Tristifer and Oraella. However, Cassandra's attempt largely falls flat. After learning that he's to be stationed at Blackhaven for the duration of the war, Ardan spots Cassandra smirking off to the side and quickly realizes she is likely responsible for it. Knowing that she's likely deprived her husband's bastard of what he desired most, she then departs the scene while conversing merrily with Connas Corbray.

## Personality

Cassandra Baratheon is a shrewd and erudite woman, with a gifted mind and an eye for detail. If you asked her, Cassandra would describe herself as a Lady first and a businesswoman second. Over the course of her life, Cassandra has grown from a meek and subservient child into a savvy and diplomatically minded adult, with a talent for managing both numbers and people. She is observant and outgoing, with a great mind for politics and business. Under her guiding hand, House Baratheon has experienced a new era of wealth and prosperity, and while their coffers are not as grand as the likes of the Lannisters or Velaryons, she has seen her house reach new heights of grandeur.

Humble isn't a word used when describing Cassandra Baratheon. While is not arrogant, not the words for her either, as she does not see herself as inherently better than others, she does carry herself with a great deal of confidence, bordering on arrogance at times. She believes in her own intelligence and skills more than anything, or anyone else in this world (save her eldest son). She is a proud woman by nature and carries herself as a true lady of a noble house.

Her best traits are three fold; Her love for her children, her intelligence and her political cunning. For all her faults, and there are many, Cassandra does truly love her children. Durran, Arrec and her daughter are her world, and she is very vocal in her affections. She not only tells her children she loves them, but shows it too, and has a deep understanding of them as people. She genuinely wants what is best for her kids and is willing to do anything to ensure they are well looked after, and their future is secure.

She is also quite a brilliant woman. A business savvy mathematical savant who has heralded a new degree of wealth and trade to the Stormlands, she has a keen understanding of not only how to earn money, but how to spend it.

And finally, she is a very good politician. A diplomat, someone who negotiates deals, and makes allies and friends over feasts and candle lit dinners. Through her social nature, she has gained many friends throughout the seven kingdoms. As for her worst traits, these too are three fold; Her spitefulness, her hypocrisy and her ruthlessness.

Beneath all her smiles, jests and honeyed words, Cassandra Baratheon is become bitter and spiteful. Ever since Ardan entered her life, a weight has been laid upon her soul, and she has developed a harsher, more resentful way about her. She is vindictive and even cruel at times, as if hurting those she hates brings her some relief to this sense of betrayal.

And finally, Cassandra is also extremely ruthless. Should someone on longer prove useful to her, or even more prove a hindrance to her ambitions, then she is more than willing to cast them aside. This is rarely done with any true malicious feelings on Cassandra's part, or many feelings at all to be honest. As they say, it's just business.

Another flaw of Cassandra's, though not a major one in my opinion, is her slight sycophancy when it comes to the royal family. You see, Cassandra looks back on her youth in King's Landing as some of the happiest years of her life. She remembers the halls of the Red Keep fondly. She remembers trying to sneak into the Dragon Pits and being chased off by the Dragonkeepers. And above all, she remembers the Iron Throne… By the mother, she remembers that throne. She tends to treat Targaryen's as if they truly are something special, as if she is desperate to have her blood mingle with that of the dragon.

As for people that she likes… Well, despite her hardened nature, Cassandra does still have a romantic side. She enjoys dancing and tales of chivalry, that is partly why she was so thrilled by Durran's fosterage to Highgarden. She also admires those who hold loyalty close to their chest, and despite her ruthless nature, is deathly devoted to those who she truly holds dear.

For people she dislikes, the simple answer is bastards and whores. She loathes those born of lust and perversion, still being quite bitter towards the sluts who lured her husband away from her. Beyond that, she hates those who hold ill intentions towards her family.