It was no secret that Cersei Lannister was a hateful woman. Her body fuelled with nothing but spite, anger and hatred so in truth no one expected her to take a liking to the Tyrells and though she could tolerate Lady Olena of house Tyrell – she couldnt stand her granddaughter Margaery Tyrell. In her eyes nothing more than a high bread whore who seeks to sow her seeds of lust into any man who claims to be the king.

First Renly Baratheon and now Joffrey. But thats not what fuelled her dislike. It was her performance. Cersei heard whispers of her oh so kind heart, visiting orphanages, aiding the maids –

She was nothing more than a washed down version of Joanna

Even as a child Cersei would grow irritated by Joannas naiviety towards the people of the Capitol. Visiting Fleabottom and handing over her jewels as if it were a slice of wine but in the very least it was done out of genuine care and love. Shed look at Joanna and assume she got it from Jaime.

She would never say it but she always felt like Joannas least favourite parent. She adored Jaime and the ground he walked upon, shed spend so many hours of her day trailing behind Jaime and Ser Barriston Selmy. She wanted to learn a great deal from her real father and her

She knows Joanna loves her but if given the chance she knew shed always be second best to Jaime.

But that's whats so admirable about Joanna – even at her lowest Joanna never allowed Cersei to feel horrid about her motherhood. She'd never allow herself to feel less like the queen she is while Margaery on the other hand was a constant reminder that she could be replaced as queen. And though she showered her with compliments Cersei could see through her retched smirk that the words were laced with venom.

"Over there in that corner is the ashes of Aeron Targeryen- Aerion Brightflame they called him. He thought drinking wildfire would turn him into a dragon." Joffrey boasted with Margaery giggling at every word that left his mouth. Cersei and Olena turned to the betrothed to be

"And of course theres the mad king. Killed by my uncle Jaime. Would you like to see where the last Targaryens are buried?" He eagerly asked her

"Are you sure Lady Margaery doesnt find this all this overwhelming?" Cersei questioned unimpressed by the pairs theatrics to sell themselves as the perfect king and queen

"Not at all your grace. I'd love to their tombs. Its like taking a walk through history." Margaery answered looking back to her prince. Joffrey put his hand on her waist and escorted her out of the Sept of Baelor. Cersei and Olenna returning to their conversation.

"You were married here your grace? Must seem like only yesterday."

"Seems like a lifetime ago." Cersei silently agreed

"Your husband, was he buried here as well?"

"No, he wanted his remains to be returned to Stormsend." Cersei spoke light heartedly because in truth whether he was in Stormsend or in a river filled with horse shit she no longer cared to pretend that she ever had feelings for Robert Baratheon.

"Such a tragedy."

"A very predictable tragedy. Hunting and drinking dont mix." Cersei coldly replied

"I should say so. My sons a hunter, helps him forget hes never been a mile within a real battle." Olenna spoke with discourage about her own son

"I seem to remember he laid siege to Stormsend Cersei replied with deep interest of the woman she now grew to at a mutual aspect respect." Olenna only laughed as she looked to the young queen

"All he laid siege to was the battles banquet table and command tent. I told him to stay out of Robertss rebellion. He had no business fighting an actual warrior but we mothers do what we can to keep our sons from the grave but they do seem to yearn for it. We shower them with good sense and slides right off like wind through the rain." The atmosphere changed between the two – they were longer speaking as leaders of their houses but rather mothers whose only concern was to see their children safe and alive and given Cersei's first born it has become a struggle to keep her safe

"And yet the world belongs to them." She scoffed

"A ridiculous arrangement in my mind."

"The gods have seem to make it so."

"My Lady, if the gods had any sense wed rule our kingdoms. Now our sons are no warriors that much I cant deny." Cersei's face hardened as she was reminded of Joffreys so called lead of the Battle at Blackwater

"But I will say maybe theyve done something right with your daughter. Ive heard how highly the people working in this palace speak of her. Its very clear you raised your daughter right as any mother should but what I will applaud to you is raising a warrior. "Olenna complimented her

"Yes, even as children Joanna has always been more adventurous and daring compared to her brothers. Robert would constantly drunkenly rant that Joanna was the son he always wanted."

"My lady, I realise that know more than ever she may seem like a traitor to your family but no one denies on everlasting fact about you."

"And what might that be?"Cersei asked with confidence

"Your daughter may have the body of a woman but she has the heart of a king. One that exceeds even the greatest kings to ever sit on the Iron Throne."

Joanna would soon realise that Edmure Tully was another name she needed to add to men who werent fit to wear armour.

Everyday their position became weaker and weaker and their forces lazier. Selfishly enough she missed being in battle instead of walking the halls of the castle waiting for some excitement to happen. Their strategies were failing more than ever and they were losing too much soldiers.

Robb had called for a meeting with his wife, uncle and great uncle but the mere thought out of it made Joannas blood boil. Joanna sat at the head of the table as her husband looked out to the river with water as blue as his eyes. It felt like the hours were dragging on as Edmure droned on and on over his victory of the Mountain.

She felt her stomach rumble as soothed it with her hand forcing herself to stay awake.

"If I may nephew , Edmure spoke as Joanna could already feel her eyes rolling to the back of her head, surprisingly Blackfish found the young girl amusing. Their family had a deep distrust in the Lannister girl but he didnt. Even congratulating his great nephew on choosing a bride with so much ferocity." Edmure proudly stated

"I encountered a situation with one of my lieutenants at the Stone Mill which may have some wearing- "

"Oh, why dont you just shut your mouth about that damned mill and dont call him nephew. He's your king." Blackfish interrupted him as Joannas interest peaked to him

"Robb know I mean him no disrespect –"

"Count your words. If it were up to me you wouldnt have a tongue to be waisting my ears on some run down mill. You have ruined our position with your carelessness and stupidity and for what?" Joanna deadpanned as she held her hand to her belly. Was it possible for someone to irritate you that much that you felt sick to your stomach?

"You're lucky Im not your king. I wouldn't let you wave your blunder like a victory flag. " Blackfish added

"My blunder sent Tywins mad dog scurrying back to Casterly Rock with his tail between his legs. I think King Robb understands that were not going to win the war if he's the only one winning any battles. There's glory to go arou-" Edmure retaliated

"What glory is their for the soldiers wives?! I vowed to avenge their husbands for. I watched them be butchered like pieces of meat from the same man that my brother used to torture me as a child. I promised those women that.

I'd have the Mountain ripped into pieces and now what – it's not even that he sent me to my grandfather but what about the people whove lost a brother, cousin, father and uncle? Now the North thinks we have a king and queen who cant get the job done. They remained silent and Joanna as well." Her lips formed into a line as she realised that she just called herself queen. Not that anyone needed to remind her but she never addressed herself as queen

"You seem to miss the picture. This will motivate the North and the glory –" Edmure tried to explain but Robb turned around and cut him off

"It's not about glory! Your instructions were to wait and let him come to you. " Robb interjected

"I seized an opportunity." Edmure defended himself again to which Joanna scoffed in displease

"What value does that fucking mill have again?" She sarcastically remarked turning to her husband who shared the same amount of irritation to Edmunds ignorance

"The mountain was garrisoned across the river from it."

"Is he still there?"

"Of course not." Edmure stood his ground we took the fight to him. He could not withstand us.

"I wanted to draw the Mountain into the west, into our country where we could surround him and kill him. I wanted him to chase us as he would have done as he is a mad dog without a strategic thought in his head. I could have had his head on a spike by now. Instead I have a mill." Robb spoke with deep vengeance. He also wanted to make the Mountain pay for upducting and keeping Joanna and Arya hostages. He wanted his death to be slow and painful for every hour he wasnt with Joanna.

"We took hostages. Willem Lannister, Martyn Lannister!"

"My cousins are fourteen years old. No older than Joffrey and Tommen for fuck sakes! My family still has Sansa. Do you think he'll sue for peace for his fathers, brothers great grandsons?" she asked using the dress to cover her stomach that ached.

"At best Im your bait and even then they couldn't get me to Kingslanding. So what do you think those boys mean to him?" Joanna argued

"How many men did we lose? "Robb demanded. Edmure stayed silent as he recollected his words to answer

"Two hundred and eight but for every- "

"WE NEED OUR MEN MORE THAN TYWIN NEED HIS!" Joanna jumped at Robbs voice. It wasnt often that he felt the need to raise his voice but when he did – even she struggled to calm him down and regain composure. One thing she realised after marrying Robb is that it was dangerous to ever enrage him especially when it came to the ones he loves.

"Sorry. I didn't know." Edmure stammered stated looking back to Joanna

"You would have if youd just been patient."

To her dismay Joanna soon realised she was a hated woman. It didnt matter if she was fighting for the North or South. Married to a high born or lowborn. She stood at the river watching the water peacefully woosh over the grounds. The air was clear and the sun was finally setting. Joanna felt at most peace whenever she could be left with her thoughts.

She breathed in deeply when she felt her hand being licked. She looked down to see Greywind nudging his snout in her hand. She laughed bending down to the direwolf who'd now grown to the size of a horse. Hard to believe that when she meet him he was a mere pup. Greywind responded by licked her cheek. She stood once again overlooking the scenery as she petted him.

"I wish everything could be normal for us Greywind." she confessed

Joanna turned her head to hear footsteps approaching them. Her head turned back to see Robb approaching her. His fur cloak in hand as he came to his wife and wrapped them around her bare shoulders. She incoherently giggled as she felt his lips pepper her neck. Leaning her body into his chest

"You're still awake? Thought you'd still be in bed after our meeting with Edmure." Robb teased as
she felt his hands rest on her shoulders. Sighing deeply in content reliving a few hours ago when Robb practically wouldn't let her leave bed.

"Don't be too surprised. It's the only reason I'm still married to you." Joanna teased. She looked to her husband who's cheeks wore the same colours of a rose

"Are you blushing?!" she squeeled. Robb's eyes widened trying to laugh it off

"No..." Robb quickly replied but Joanna's smirk stretched from ear to ear

"Did I get the ever- stoic King of the North to blush?" Joanna laughed as she brought her chest to his. Robb's face growing redder and redder as he couldn't keep his eyes off his wife

"No... it's- it's just cold..." he stammered over his words

"You are! You can't even hide it underneath that stupid brooding face you Starks have!" She exclaimed as she wiggled her nose against Robb's.

Joanna never imagined she could feel this safe. In Kings Landing she was always tortured to Joffrey's verbal abuse, to Roberts drunken rants. She only felt safe around Jaime and even then she felt out of place. But with Robb...

Robb made her feel alive, body and soul. She'd wake up to his warmth and fell asleep to his snores. Her life was perfect but she only wished that there was no war. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like if Jaime hadn't thrown Bran out of the window.

So many things could be different. She liked to imagine that Ned Stark would still be alive as the hand of Jon Arryn. Sansa and Arya living peacefully in the Red Keep. She imagined the wedding she'll never have. Her mother would send her the dress she wore. Her hair braided in the way the Northerners did with Catelyn's approval. But those were all fantasies and all she could think of is cherishing every moment she had with Robb.

She was a Lannister and even though Robb promised it, her safety could never be guaranteed but if so she'd pray every lasting minute to be an eternity.

Authors note:
so, I know I've been taking an extensive hiatus but I'm back and I'm so happy to see Bleeding Ivory get more reads. So I'm going to be a lot more active so please tell me which characters you'd like to see Joanna interact with:
•Shae
•Isabella
•Arya
•Catelyn
•Robb

please remember to vote and comment
x