Joanna struggled to fall asleep that night, her mind constantly wandering to Robb. To her. The soon to Lady Stark. Whomever Walder Frey had envisioned him to marry Joanna imagines her to be beautiful. Despite Theons snickers about his unfortunate bloodline – surely the old man was wise enough to spare a beautiful bride for the acting Lord of Winterfell. Joanna sighed resting her back against the bedpost.

Tomorrow she – they – would be attacking Jaimes troops. Jaime.

It suddenly dawned on her that no matter how shed try to reason her way out of it – she was no longer a Lannister. Not after tomorrow where shell be forced to kill the men of her house – what was her house. Joanna bit on her fingernails. A disgusting habit Cersei tried to force out of her but never prevailed.

"Oh Gods." She groaned thinking to her mother. What would she say? Shed feel more betrayed than anyone else. Her daughter – eldest child and pillar of their family trading sides for the Starks. Joannas tent opened and lucky enough it was no one specific – not that she was in the mood for much conversation but rather a special guest

"Greywind!" She exclaimed joyously. The direwolf had grown significantly larger over the course of their travels. He was no longer the small pup shed carry around Winterfell and taking him for his feedings. Greywind stood at half the size of a horse and was growing every day. But the direwolf knew Joanna and had also formed an attachment to her.

Greywind trotted to her bed resting his head in her lap and she scratched behind his ears.

"What am I going to do when Jaime sees me?" She asked. Greywind winced as he snuggled his head comfortably on her lap. Somehow his presence calming her down. Joanna had no idea what to expect – she just hoped her grandfather wouldnt be expecting her head on a spike.

The sun had rose but they were already travelling. No one spoke a word not even Shae, though she stayed by Joannas side never leaving her. Robb was leading his bannermen into the Lannister camp – Joanna travelling a distance behind him. The two still not speaking to one another after – what almost happened between them. Joanna came to a mutual point that he was practically already married to the Frey girl and that she served no place in his life besides being a loyal soldier.

The plan was brilliant – none of the Lannister men expecting the attack on them. Their numbers quickly dwindling. They were too outnumbered. Robb lead his men with the Starks, Mormonts, Karstarks and the Freys. No one was more shocked to see Joanna then Jaimes loyal men. She was cutting through them like dead flies. Her armour stained with mud and hair thick from sweat but in that moment shed never felt more alive.

They waited for their signal – allowing what little of the Lannister army to retaliate. The plan was to isolate them and force them to surrender. There were no horns as signals but rather Greywinds howl echoing through the Whispering Wood. Jaime was too good at his task – Joanna was near impossible to stop. Her arm moving with her sword at hand like they were intertwined with one another. Greywind attacked any man who dare came near the princess.

Shae just as impressive- her arrows never missing a target as she mounted herself in the middle of the battleground with her men guarding her. The arrows from her travelling right through their throats not even allowing them within ten feet of her range.

Joanna yelled as her horse was stabbed – her body plummeting to the ground. She grabbed her sword at hand as she fought through the armies. She could see the disgust and disappointment of the Lannister men in their eyes but she didnt care. Her family knew what they were guilty of and it couldnt be allowed to get away with hit. A man in red, gold and black armour charing towards her. She lifted her sword as the clashed against one another, grinding her teeth she kicked him in his kneecap and hit her forehead against his already bruised one. The soldier falling to his knees – he looked to the princess standing above him – gargled as much as he could and spat the blood from his mouth onto her face. Joanna didnt hesitate before plunging her sword into his chest.

"Well I must say even for myself, I've outdone myself." Her heart stopped when she turned to face him. Jaime standing across her with an arrogant smirk on his face. Joanna had no time to face her inner turmoil. She rushed towards, Jaime readying himself in stand. Their swords clached with one another. A Lannister and a Lannister fighting against each other. Jaime hit his sword again but Joanna was too quick as she grabbed the nearest shield to deflect from his attack. The shield smacking him in his face as he fell back with a bloodied nose.

"You know, your grandfather doubted whether you could last five minutes on the battlefield –" Jaime huffed as he kicked Joanna to the ground.

"But I told him you're a Lannister – and Lannisters never fail at their craft." His sword hitting again but Joanna countered with hers. Joanna was growing tired of his arrogance. His smirk never faltering off his face. She screamed as her blade swing back cutting him across the chest. Jaime yelling as the blade cut through his armour. The Kingslayer falling to his niece. Clutching his bloodied chest – he smirked looking to Joanna

"Alright, I yield. Even I know when to give up a fight. The battle was over." Joanna out of breath turned to see the men cheering in victory. Even Theon giving her a nod of respect. Joanna smirked but damn near tackled Shae when she was her alive and still well.

"See, I told you we belonged here." Shae complimented her as the two women embraced one another. The tone changed on the field. Joanna could see it in the mens eyes that they finally earned their respect. Shae a master at archery and she one at sword. Finally they were not just ladies in waiting.

Catelyns eyes filled with tears as she saw Robb and his remaining army return. The air was damp against her bloodied skin but it felt refreshing. Joanna now knew she was never meant to be a princess – she was destined to be a warrior. The battle proving it more than anything ever imagined. She sighed in relief as she dropped Jaime to the ground in front of Catelyn Stark.

"By the time they knew what was happening, it had already happened." Robb informed his mother taking a stand next to her.

"Lady Stark. I'd offer you my sword but I seem to have lost it." Jaime sarcastically noted as he turned back to see Joanna with her sword in hand. Even though he lost the battle he couldnt help but feel proud at the woman that stood before him. Joanna – the spitting image of her father after his first victory

"It is not your sword I want. Give me my daughters back. Give me my husband." Catelyn demanded.

"I've lost them too I'm afraid." Jaime answered breathlessly

"Kill him Robb! Send his head to his father. He caught down ten of our men. You saw it!" Theon encouraged. Robb turned to Joanna – her eyes clearly disagreeing with Theons proposition.

"He's more used to us alive than dead."

"Take him away and put him in irons." Catelyn ordered. The men grabbing hold of Jaime by arms as he forcibly stood to the ground

"We could end this war right now boy. You want your sisters and father and my family wants my niece. Save thousands of lives. You fight for the Starks and I fight for the Lannisters. Swords or lances, teeth, nails – choose your weapons and lets end this here and now." Jaime challenged him

"If we do it your way Kingslayer, you'd win. Were not doing it your way." He smirked as Jaime was taken away. Joanna smirked as her un – as Jaime was being taken away. She thanked the Gods Robb didnt accept his challenge.

"I sent 2000 men to their deaths today. Robb confessed. Joanna could help as she took hold of his hand." Catelyn looked to Shae uncomfortably as both women understood how serious her innocent gesture was.

"The bards will sing songs of their sacrifice." Theon comforted his brother and closest friend

"Aye, but the dead wont hear them." Robb turned to look at the men that stood before him. Joanna realising her inappropriate actions discreetly let go out his hand.

"One victory does not make conquerors! Did we free my father? Did we rescue my sisters from the Queen? Did we free the North from those who want us on our knees? This was is far from over."

Joanna sat in her bath – her body finally clean after at least three. She reclining in the bath as she felt her skin be cleansed by the water. Shed sent Robb a request to meet her in her tent for a new strategy that needed to be approved but he didnt answer. She assumed he needed to process the battle – gods knows she did. Joannas mind flashed to all the men shed laid waste to today. She may have the body of a princess but she was a born a warrior.

She couldnt help in laugh thinking to how Marcylla, Tommen and Joffrey wouldve reacted. Seeing Jaime made her very emotional now. She remembers after her first time training with Jaime she had a cut across her palm. That night her youngest siblings snuck into her bedroom. Marcylla carrying every bandage her small hands could carry and Tommen opening his satchel with all of Joannas favourite desserts in. They did this every time she would have a new bruise on her body – Joffrey on the other hand. He threw tantrums on why Joanna was allowed to train with Jaime and not him – arguing that she would never need the training because shed be married off and become fat from eating through her future husbands wealth. In a strange way she missed it – being around her family.

Robb walked in but quickly covered his eyes and turned his body when he realised she was still naked in the bathtub. Joannas voice bellowing with laughter. Grabbing the nearest robe as she stepped out coming through the wet strands of her hair

"Its alright Robb, you can turn now." Robb cautiously turned his head – making sure she was decent enough when he approached her

"I just came to check on whether or not you were injured." He asked with concern. He stepped closer to see a small scratch across her rosy cheek. His thumb grazing over it. Joannas breath hitched at the contact

"Its fine – just an arrow that barely broke through the skin." Her hand traveling to his chest as she could see his chest hair through his shirt. Her fingers playing with them as Robb cupped her uninjured cheek. Her heart fluttered as the two couldnt gaze away from each other.

"Robb, we need to stop. We – I need to accept that your betrothed to someone else." She calmly stated refusing to look away from his beautiful eyes.

"I know , but you can't deny –"

"We have to try and be friends and nothing more please. Remember why you need Walder Frey on your side." She pleaded as he snaked his arms around his waist drawing them closer to each other.

"My sisters and my father." He reminded himself.

"Friends?" She stepped away extending her hand. Robb smirked as he took hold of her hand and shook it

"Friends." Before Joanna could react he planted a kiss on her knuckles. Joannas blush undeniably spread across her face as she accidentally giggled. Robb laughing back at her

"Friends! You cant do that unless you mean to tell me you kiss Theon as well." She humoured him as she pulled away his hands

"No my lady. And I barely even kissed you but I do love seeing the reaction I still manage to draw out of you. None the less – friends." He confidentially smirked as he left her tent. Joanna holding her cheeks as she felt the warmth travel through her body. Shaking her head she planted her body onto her bed as she continued to laugh. Gods, the effect Robb had on her was undeniable.

author's note:
I know...
I know...
I suck at writing battles