"Beloved sister!" The king Joffrey's voice sounded through the throne room as he entered. Joanna turned around to acknowledge her younger brothers presence. He'd grown- he was taller but still a mischievous smirk plastered on his face

"And here I thought you were avoiding me." he grabbed Joanna by the shoulder as he forced her to face him. Joanna yelped at the aggression of his hand as she pulled back "If only you know how much we've all awaited the day of your return."

He laughed. Joanna's face remained blank as she simply bowed "Thank you my king." Joffrey hated when Joanna did that. When she didn't react. Joffrey gained a sense of purpose and pleasure out of tormenting everyone, but particularly Joanna.

How could he not? Since birth he was compared to his perfect sister. The diplomat, the strategist and swordswoman. Since a young age it was made very clear to him that if Joanna had been born a boy, she would have accended to the Iron Throne.

"Come, leave the formalities sister." He excused "Rather tell me about your ventures in the North." He toyed

Joanna couldn't show him lip, she couldn't give him reason to hurt her. Not only because she would retaliate but also for the sake of her child. Her gowns and sleeves were becoming more extravagant but it had only been 5 months, she was already showing enough that it seemed a surprise no one had been able to realize. Though Joffrey was so self conceited that he wouldn't care to notice.

"My ventures?"

"I hear you took uncle Jaimes sword and was the one to capture him in the battle of the Whispering Woods." Joffey asked

Joanna nodded her head "Yes... it feels like a lifetime ago..." Joanna quietly answered. Her first battle , all of it felt like a distant memory.

"Do you still have his sword?"

"Yes." She still had it underneath her bed, for the nights she was too scared to fall asleep "If I may, why the sudden interest?"

There was no point in tormenting Joanna , not if she couldn't give him the pleasure he desired. It was like the fire in her eyes had died- like she was just living but with no purpose.

"Why? Is it impossible to think I care?"

"Truthfully yes. You've never cared about me." She bluntly answered. The pair said nothing to one another both not realizing how deep their interaction hurt them.

To Joanna, Joffrey would always be the reason she fled home and started a life in the North. Since he was born, aside from Jaime, Tyrion and Cersei, she was cast aside. The true heir and prince- not only that she couldn't forgive him for the years of torment and abuse. The nights she would lie in her bed with her dagger under her pillow.

But to Joffrey, there was no point of salvaging what he had with Joanna. Perhaps it was too late - too much has happened.

Joffrey scoffed "Of course you would find a way to make yourself the victim in this." He spat as Joanna's jaw clenched "I try and be nice and this is my thank you, fucking spoilt-"

Joanna stepped away as the pair faced one another with Joanna looking down on him as she was on a step from the Throne "Don't you fucking say it." She threatened "I am not making a victim of myself Joffrey. It's the truth."

"Oh you act as if you're so innocent Joanna." He rolled his eyes "Forever seeking sympathy and praise from the consequences of your actions." He accused her as both could feel their tempers slowly arise

"I?" Her breath hitched as a floodgates of anger wash over her "You-" she struggled to find the words "I have been second place to you my entire life, and the one chance I had at happiness you took away from me!" She argued back as her palms grew sweaty, she crossed her arms and straightened her back "Since we were children, you have done nothing but cause me pain. Why?"

Joffrey remained silent

"What have I ever done to make you hate me this much. I'm your sister and yet you treat me as your enemy."

"And what about you!" Joffrey yelled "I have been stuck in your fucking shadow and never have you given me the chance to be my own!" He snapped "Do you know what it's like to have yourself constantly measured to someone you can never be!"

Joanna shook her head. This was in fact the first time they ever spoke so openly with one another. Since their years as children their arguments quickly resorted into fights Jaime and Ser Barristan would break up.

There were so many scars and bruises on her skin that would never heal because of Joffrey. He'd throw her out of a window if given the chance.

"That's not true!" She bit her lip in fear of the words that would follow "I have always tried to keep myself lesser than you, for the sake of your ego."

"Shut up!" His hand swung to struck her as she caught his forearm. Joffrey stunned by her quick reaction as she shoved him to the floor "I refuse to be a victim of your fucking torment!"

Joffrey grabbed the dagger in his sheath as he charged towards her. Joanna stood her ground as she grabbed her brother by his forearms as the blade of the dagger stood a few inches from her eye "I WILL FUCKING HAVE YOUR TONGUE. HOW DARE YOU STRIKE YOUR KING!" He shrieked as he couldn't release himself from Joanna. With all his strength he wanted to thrust the blade through her eye for her insolence "I'M YOUR KING! HOW DARE YOU LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME!" His voice bellowed as the doors to the throne room burst open with Jaime, Cersei and four guards of the kingsguadd ran towards the siblings.

"Release the blade! Now!" Jaime yelled as his ordered were simply ignored "Joanna , let him go!"

"NOT UNTIL I HAVE THIS CUNTS TONGUE!" Joffrey screeched as he forced his weight onto Joanna in attempts to for her to he knees.

The pregnancy had made Joanna more weak and vulnerable as she felt herself lose ground with the blade inching closer. Her heart was racing against her her as she violently shook her head. She couldn't let him win, wouldn't.

Joanna grunted as forced herself to rise looking Joffrey square in the eye as she spat in his face. Disgusted he screamed as Joanna's saliva hit his eye, dropping the blade as Joanna kicked him back to the ground. His back hitting with a thud against the floor.

Even she gasped at her actions as she backed away, Joffrey quickly to his feet but Meryn Trant holding him back as he wanted to break me "LET GO OF ME!" He yelled to Cersei and Jaime "I WILL HAVE HEAR FUCKING TONGUE AND HANDS. ILL MAKE A CRIPPLE OUT OF HER!"

Joanna stepped backwards until she felt the seat of the throne against her leg.

"Enough!" a voice called from against the room. The hairs on her neck rising as they noticed they were in audience of Tywin and Olenna Tyrell.

Tywin slowly approached the scene at hand , his face disgusted and disapproving from the king and princess's rouse. He walked with high command to the throne to stand in between his grandson and granddaughter. A disgruntled look on his face "See to it that the prince is escorted to his chambers. He will be called to my office when ready." He commanded the kings guard as he looked to Jaime "Guard his room. Go. Now!" He ordered as Joffrey shoved Meryn Trant off him marching out of the throne room. The only one remaining was Joanna, Cersei and himself.

He turned to face Joanna as he looked her from up and down. Shaking his head in disapproval "See to it the princess is taken to her chambers. I can't the sights of either one of you."

"I didn't do anything!" Joanna announced "He struck me!" She yelled back

"HE IS YOUR KING! HE COULD HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR WHAT YOU DID!"

"ITS NOT MY FAULT!"

"JOANNA, LEAVE NOW!" His command echoed through the throne room as Joanna flinched at the volume of his command. Even as a woman, Tywin still installed a fear within Joanna that she did not want to toy with.

She swallowed her pride as she marched out of the throne room with Cersei following behind him. Tywin sat in the throne to see Olenna Tyrell, a witness to it all.

Within the garden Olenna Tyrell sat surrounded by her handmaidens as she looked across the Black Water Bay. She sat in a deep silence thinking to what she had witnessed. It was no secret that Joffrey was a temperamental king and his sister stubborn as can come, but she never thought she would get the the privellage to see the Lannisgers in their purest form. Unbalanced , undisciplined and not un-united.

"Do you like it Nana?" a cheerful handmaiden asked as she showed an embroidery she had made.

Olenne rolled her eyes looking to the girl "Another golden rose, how oroginal." She said with disinterest "I eat from plates stamped with roses. I sleep in sheets embroidered with roses. I have a golden rose painted on my chamber pot as if it that makes it smell any better." She retorted "Roses are boring dear." She sat forward in her seat to take a closer look at the embroidery "Growing strong, ha!" She laughed "Dullest words of any house." She amused

"Winter is coming." Olenna recited "Now that's memorable. We do not sow, strong, strong those houses you watch out for." She told the girl "Direwolves and krakens, fierce beast!" She laughed "But a golden rose growing strong? Ha, that strikes fear in the heart." She sat back in her seat watching her approaching visitor

"Look little loves, a spider in the garden." She smirked as Lord Varys approached them. "Run along now." She commanded as the girls of her court bowed before leaving the Lady Olenna and Lord Varys alone.

"My lady." Lord Varys greeted "Since your arrival , the city has been made brighter by your presence."

She held her hand to her chest "The city is made brighter by my presence." She sarcastically mimicked "Is that your attempt to flatter me Lord Varys?" She asked "Have you come here to seduce me?" Olenna lightheartedly questioned

"With little obvious perhaps." Varys matched her playful banter

"Oh please, seduce away. It's been so long." Olenna laughed "Though I think it's all for nought. What happens when the non-existent bumps against the decrypted." She remark "Question for the philosophers." She hinted as Varys took note.

"Might I sit?"

"No." Olenna bluntly answered. Varys quickly taking pause by her unexpected answer "Come Lord Varys, I've heard you're such a clever man. I'm curious as to why you've seek me out."

Varys remained unentertained as he spoke "I'm told you were a witness to the attack on the king by the princess."

"An attack? Looked more like a spoilt boy who couldn't force his will on his sister." Olenna answered

"No matter the case. I'm told you've taken a rather interest in princess Joanna." He stated

"Have I? Because I asked her good sister Sansa Stark about her once in this garden and one of your spies came running to you?" Olenna smirked "Why shouldn't I take interest? She's an interesting girl." Olenna proudly answered

"Is she?"

"But of course!" Olenna boasted "How often do you live to see the rogue princess that turned against her family in a war of five kings?"

Even Varys couldn't deny the new level of respect Joanna's escapades in the North had brought her. They called her many things in the South. A traitor, murderer but the name that stuck out was the rogue princess.

"Even you can't deny that's she's had an interesting upbringing. A princess groomed to sit the Iron Throne. Trained by the Kingslayer herself, even after the birth of her brother took her claim. Her childhood is compared to that of legends little girls can only dream of."

"It is. Some within the red keep were witness to it ourselves." Varys said "She would frequently sneak out with Ser Jaime to train, long after the kings birth."

"Come now Lord Varys. You and I both know you didn't come here to tell tales of the princess like cackling hens. What is the purpose of this visit." Olenna sat up as she approached Lord Varys "Walk with me. I know the walls have ears but apparently the shrubbery does too."

They strolled through the blooming gardens of the red keep "I choose my allies carefully and my enemies more carefully still." He began

"Which is Joanna Stark- or is it Lannister or Baratheon. I always get confused." Olenna scoffed

"I think she prefers Stark, but she is nor a foe or an ally to me. She has a close bond with Ned Stark, which I must say I admired." Varys explained

"Ah, Ned Stark. He had many admirers and how many stepped forward when the executioner called for his head?"

"I could not help Lord Stark." Varys confessed "But perhaps I can help his daughter, along with the princess. "

"How so?" Olenna questioned

"You're not the only one who has interest in the last of House Stark."

"How surprising. They're beautiful girls with famous names." Olenna scoffed

"Indeed." Varys agreed "They'd make a lovely match for the right suitor."

They stopped in their tracks as Varys stood across from Olenna "It almost feels like.

"Littlefinger is not long from the Capitol." Varys began to discreetly warn "A confident has told me that where he goes, Sansa Stark goes with him."

"And why have you come to me with this matter?"

"Littlefinger was born with no lands, no wealth and no armies. He's acquired the first two. How long before he has the army?" Olenna chuckled "Perhaps you'll laugh but I know him better than most but this is the truth, Littlefinger is the most dangerous man in Westeroes. Robb Stark has fallen but Joanna Stark still lives, and make no mistake she will have Sansa Stark as an ally. The princess is the key to the North."

"And if Littlefinger should marry Sansa, he's very close to the key, doesn't he?"

"Which seems such a shame." Varys nodded "Why should a man with such a low reputation steal away such a lovely bride?"

"You must despise him. You're working working hard to undermine him." Olenna stated quite impressed by the Master of Whisperers

"On the contrary, I quite rather enjoy him but he would see this country burn if he could be king of the ashes. But I believe I have a solution for all of that. "

"Well, it's all very obvious, isn't it?" As the Lady Olenna and Lord Varys continued to stroll through the gardens as the wedding between Margaery Tyrell and Joffrey Baratheon was slowly approaching.