"Joanna, you need to stop. You two are playing with fire. Shae scolded Joanna as she took another bite in her bread. Joanna sat at the table love stricken as she handed Greywind her piece of meat

"It's not that simple. I've truly grown to care for him Shae. I was meant to marry him and in rare cases like these I cant help what I feel." She explained looking back to her friend. She understood Shaes concern but that didnt mean she could force her emotion down like that

"Joanna, he needs to marry the Frey girl. You realise how important this bridge is – for all of us." Shae replied.

Joanna huffed in annoyance as she left refusing to accept Shaes advice. Shae stabbing her food in rage of her friends stubbornness. She lifted her eyes to see Theon Greyjoy seated in front of her. Theon had grown interested in Shae since her arrival - well not frustration but rather lust. Shae never cared to give him the slightest bit of attention but that didn't stop Theon from making inappropriate comments about her or her body.

"What do you want?" She asked in annoyance

"You and I both know those two are playing a dangerous game. One more visit from them two at night and everyone will think he's fucking her. As if they don't already think that." Theon said

"Why is that you care? We all know how much you loathe Joanna." Shae retorted. Theons face stayed stoic as he answered the woman in front of him

"Despite what you may believe – I care of Robb. He's like my brother and that little whore – "

"Mind you tongue." Shae gritted her teeth as her fist clenched around the knife at hand. Theon looked to her alarmed as he cleared his throat

"The Starks are like family. I know Robb better than anyone. All he wants is his father and his sisters back but he can't do that because she continues to be a distraction."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Convince Joanna to end whatever is going on with Robb. We both know Walder Frey doesn't take insults easily." Theon answered as he marched away from the table. Shae sighed in defeat, even on her best of days she wouldnt admit it but Theon was right.
Robb was betrothed to the Frey girl and needed to stay honourable to his word. It was obvious that the two cared for one another but it would be selfish of them to put their personal feelings ahead the lives of so many others.

"My lord" Shae spoke with a sympathetic tone. They were gathered in Robbs tent but amongst his friends Robb was never addressed as a lord. Shae handed him the letter. In black ink it stood. Catelyn approached her son as he handed her the piece of parchment. She gasped in horror immediately taking a seat. Her eyes filled with tears as she handed the letter to Theon.

"Lord Stark – h- hes been beheaded. They killed him." Theon announced. Shae and Joanna eyebrows lifted at his emotions. At times it truly slipped their minds that Ned Stark was father to Theon as well. The tone shifted as all the Lords were struck by shock and grief. Robb stormed out of the tent refusing to face anyones sympathy. Catelyn rushed after her son, respectfully marching past the men who honourably gave their condolences to the now widowed Lady Stark.

Joanna stood from her chair but a hand firmly squeezed her shoulder. It was Shae. She looked to her friend with deep concern as she spoke

"Joanna don't." she ignored the warning as she followed behind Robb. Along the treelines she could see Robb crying into his mothers eyes – this being the first time shed see him cry but she understood. Ned Stark truly was a remarkable man and a devoted father even to his bastard son Robb told her so much about. Catelyn took notice of the young princess that hid behind the trees. Extending her arm she gestured for Joanna to approach her son. Joanna idly walked closer as Catelyn held her hand and intertwined it with Robbs.

Even though Robb was now betrothed to another even she couldn't deny that Joanna was exactly the woman Robb needed in life. Caring but resilient. The two shared similar aspects that would make for a fine king and queen.

"I'll leave you be now." She said to the young girl. Joanna didnt hesitate as she took hold of Robb as he cried his eyes out. They stood for what felt like hours. Joanna didn't rush him – he had been so calm and patient with her when she heard that Robert had died. Although her reasons were different he stayed with her until the last tears escaped her eyes. He stayed with her until she drifted off into deep slumber and that is what she would do for him.

Robbs cries became silent as he rested his head in the crook of her neck. His arms tightly wrapped around the frame of her body he placed a kiss on her neck – but it wasnt like the last time. It was gentle and loving, his way of thanking her. He raised his head to look at her doe eyes staring back at him. His hand swifting to the back of her head to bring her in closer. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead the two left but Robb would leave a boy and be the man his father wanted –

Needed him to be.

Joanna believed that death was the metamorphosis of humans. It could change you for the better or the worse. Primary example was the man she was forced to call father. Robert Baratheon. All her life she was told tales of how brave and confident and determined he was but after the war against the Targeryens dynasty.

When Robert became he became a drunken whore monger. Deceiving her mother from the one to next. He was no longer the strong willed and black bearded prince she was told – no after the death of Aerys the conqueror he became a shell of a man – constantly clinging to the ghost of his past.

But that was not the case of Robb. Robb was always confident but Joanna could see in his demeanour. His confidence never eluded her – on the contrary its one of the aspects that attracted her to him but now she seemed more assured of himself. It had been a day since the announcement of Ned Starks death and the lords of the North were gathered for yet another meeting.

"Renly is not the king!" Robb argued with Lord Janos

"You cannot mean to hold to Joffrey ,my lord?" He put your father to death. He argued back

"That does not make Renly king. He's Robertss youngest brother. Now Bran can't be lord of Winterfell before me." Renly cant be king before Stannis. Joanna felt her skin itch because had the laws been written her way shed have been seated on the Iron Throne. She was after all the first born but Joffrey – unfortunately the first son

"Do you mean to declare us to Stannis?!" He asked in disbelief

"Renly is not right!" Lord Glover exclaimed

"My lords. My Lords!" Greatjon exclaimed from his seat taking stand in front of them all

"Here is what I say to these two kings. Renly Baratheon is nothing to me, nor is Stannis. Why should they rule over me and mine from some flowery seat in the South? What do they know the Wall or the Wolfswood? Even their gods are wrong! Why shouldnt we rule ourselves again? It was the dragons we bowed to and now the dragons are dead! There sits the only king I mean to bend my knee to – the King in the North!" He proclaimed extending his sword and taking bow on his knee to Robb. Robb turning to Joanna before rising

"I'll have peace on those terms. They can keep their Red Castle and their Iron chair too. The King in the North!" Lord Karstark joined

"Am I your brother, now and always?" Theon asked taking stand in front of his life time friend

"Now and always." Robb nodded. Theon smirked proudly as he took his sword and bowed to Robb

"My sword is yours in victory and defeat, from this day until my last day." He vowed. Shae not hesitating bowed to Robb as well. Joanna smirked as she pulled out her sword – Jaimes sword. If theres one thing this was has taught her is that she will not be defined by her familial bonds. Her feelings aside she knew Robb would make for a good king. Robb along with lord Glover and Karstark looked surprised when they noticed the blonde woman taking bow next to them

"I refuse to be tied with the crimes of my family. You've proven to be a more worthy king than my father or any king I was raised to follow, have ever been. From this day until my last I will fight for the Young Wolf and King in the North!" She swore.

While the rest of the camp celebrated in Robbs new title, Joanna lead herself to Jaime. There were many things they needed to discuss besides who she swore her fealty to.

"Leave us please." She kindly ordered the guard. Jaime tied against a wooden post with his arms in in the ear and face soaked in blood and dirt as he looked to Joanna. The Lannister genes screaming through the glare she had on her face. Never looking more like Cersei than she did right there

"Well dont you look lovely? I bet if you were born a boy – youd look just like me when I was your age. Strong and confident – claiming the sword of the soldier I defeated." He glanced to the sword hed have for years which she clung to

"Shut up."

"Ooh not very ladylike of you. You'd think being surrounded by wolves theyd learned to tame a princess like yo –" Jaime grunted as Joannas hard fist strike through his cheek. Joanna having the proclivity to punching her fist through solid stone had grown immune to the pain in her fists. Jaime spat out more blood as he looked to her

"Well you didn't get your muscle from Robert – I'll give you that." He breathlessly remarked

"I suppose now that he's dead you'll make no secret that I'm yours now." She spoke Jaime looking back to her in shock

"Don't look so surprised. You and mother were never good at hiding your secret meetings. I spent most of my life in the castle – did you really think I would stop sneaking around all because Robert hit me once?"

"How long have you known?"

"Since Joffrey was born. Gods- the thought of you two – "She sneered at him biting her fingernails

"Don't do that – you've always had the disgusting habit of biting your nails when you're nervous. Stop – no way for a future queen to act." Jaime tiredly laughed at his daughter

"I'm no ones queen." Joanna argued back as she crossed her arms

"Aren't you? You fight for them, you loyalty belong to them – had it not been for Joffrey and you would have married him. You'd be the Lady of Winterfell either way." Jaime replied back

"Jaime, I need to know – Bran, did you-"

"Yes." Jaime confessed, with not a shred of guilty overcoming him. Joanna's face turnt depleted as she shook her head. She looked to him in disbelief and disappointment.

"Why?" He didn't answer. Joanna was smart enough to know why. She could tell it in his body language. He made no eye contact with her. He didnt want to look at her teary eyes. Nothing pained him more than to see his daughter unhappy. Nothing and no one.

"Because of mother, why else. Stupid enough to even ask." She scoffed

"Joanna, try and understand – "

"No! For years this – this disgusting affair has been going on. For gods sake Jaime – she's your sister." She whispered not wanting anyone to hear them

"What if that was Joffrey and I or Marcylla and Tommen?"

"That's different." He tried arguing back

"Why because we didn't share a womb at the same time?" She snapped at him angrily "You realise that Bran could have died? Now he is a cripple and doesn't even remember what he did to deserve his fate."

"The plan was for him to die." Jaime admitted

"Gods – what if someone tried to do that to one of us. Your inbred children. What if I witnessed an affair and was pushed out of a window? Or held against my will like Sansa and Arya?"

"I'd kill whoever – it doesnt matter. Why are you fighting against your family in any case?! "

"Exactly! You'd fight for me. Don't you see youre on the wrong side of this war? That's why Im fighting for the Starks. What this family has done for them cannot be excused. His father his dead because of Joffrey's stupidity and for what – what treasons could he commit. You and I know how much Ned Stark cared for Robert. Why is it that Joffrey demanded I be returned to Kings Landing but no plans have been made to return Arya and Sansa? How is it that my betrothal to him is void and yet Sansa is still held captive by us? We have nothing to gain here." Jaime stayed silent.

"Gods – you really are her." He softly spoke up

"What?"

"My mother y- you just reminded me of her." There was a rule amongst the Lannisters to never speak of Joanna Lannister. Mainly because it upset the children too much and Tyrion was always faced by an alarming amount of blame and hate. Joanna never knew her grandmother – she was like a ghost that lived through her. So to hear Jaime speak of her was well – intriguing

"Sleep well Joanna, this is going to be a long war."

"They have my son."  Tywin Lannister spoke to his council of men. Their bodies stiffened in realising that theyve lost the first battle. Two Lannisters now belonging to the Starks.

"The Stark boy seems to be less green than we'd hoped." Tyrion stated looking to his father.

"I've heard his wolf killed dozens of horses as well as men. And her –" Kevin Lannister hesitated to speak her name. Tywins jaw clenched at the thought of her when he took a seat at the head of the table

"What of her?" He asked with disgust at his granddaughter betrayal

"They say she killed through half our men. Jaime battled her but in the end had to surrender when he realised he had no chance of winning." Tywin and Tyrion shared a look of shock to one another. They were very much aware of Joannas training with Jaime when she was younger but they never thought she was capable enough to fight a war, let alone win in her first battle

"Is it true what they say about Stannis and Renly?" one of the Lords asked diverting attention away from Joannas betrayal

"The Baratheons have taken up against us." Jaime captured, his armies scattered and now Joanna fights along the Stark boy. Its a catastrophe. Perhaps we should issue for peace? Kevin suggested to his older brother. Tyrion comically knocked his wine glass off the table

"There's your peace.Joffrey sought to that when he decided to remove Ned Starks head. You'll have an easier time drinking from that cup then getting Robb Stark to sit at this table. He's winning. Not only because we underestimated him but I've heard from Varys that Joanna devised the very strategy that got Jaime captured. He also has Shae Lin fighting for him." Tyrion spoke looking as irritated and defeated as his father

"Women? The boy has women fighting his wars?" One of the men laughed and laughed alone

"Need I remind you Lord Lin was the strategist in the victory of the Greyjoy Rebellion and aided Robert Baratheon in the fall of the Targeryens. Their bodies stiffened in discomfort. It became more apparent that they were losing a war against children who were fighting their first battle."

"That's not to say his daughter is –" the Lord argued which Tyrion quickly countered

"I've been informed that thanks to Shae Lin the majority of our archers died with arrows shot through their throats, coupled with Joanna – who laid waste to hundreds of men by viciously cutting through their hearts. We've lost – and not one of them older than eighteen."

"Yes but we still have the Stark girls. The first order of business would be to ransom Ser Jaime."

"No truces, we'd look weak –" The lords continued to argue against each other. Tyrion looked to his father with concern. His silence was deafening and that scared him. Tyrion felt his hand tremble as he could feel the fury in his veins boil hotter than wildfire scorching off skin and bones.

"THEY HAVE MY SON!" Tywin yelled as he slammed his fist against the table. Some of his men even flinching at his raised voice.

"Get out. All of you, except for you." He ordered leaving him alone with Tyrion who was more than intrigued that his father would willlingly want his presence

"You were right about Ned Stark. If he were alive we could have used him to broker a peace with Winterfell and Riverrun which wouldve given us more time to deal with Robertss brothers but now – madness. Madness and stupidity." He spoke

"Ser Gregor Clegane will set out on Riverrun and set fire to Godseye to the Red Fork. The rest of us will regroup at Harrenhall. While you go to Kings Landing."

"What about Joanna? Do you expect to have The Mountain deliever her head on a spike?" Tywin looked to his son in disgust

"Of course not! Joanna will be retrieved along with Jaime. She will return to Kings Landing where you as the new appointed hand to the king will persuade Joffrey to send her to Casterly Rock where I expect her to be married and rule should I face my death."

"Joanna? You're making her heir?" Tyrion questioned though not out of jealousy or anger. He'd known for years hed never inherit his fathers home.

"Don't look so shocked. It's not like I could rely on my children to honour the Lannister name. Your sister a mad woman, your brother serving for years as a glorified body guard and you –" He refused to even speak it but Tywin and Tyrion understood what he so loathed about his youngest son.

"The plan was always to have Joanna rule this family. We have a few months left to build an empire that could last longer than even the Targaryens." Tyrion smirked impressively at his father. He had to admit it was a brilliant plan, especially since Joanna already had the admiration of those who knew her and those who didnt – well she had the personality that no one could hate

"What of Joffrey?" Tywin scowled taking a sip of his wine

"We both know that boy will mean the end to the Lannister name. No, our dynasty will be built off of Joanna Lannister."

authors note:
to whoever is left reading this is the last chapter of book 1. I'm currently writing season 2 and will post probably after Christmas but in the mean time I'm also writing a Tyrion and Jon Snow book - maybe even a Theon book😌
thank you for the reads, votes and comments: