CHAPTER TWO: The Lioness and Her Silver Ship

Two days after the siege of Casterly Rock, Robb and Johanna walk through the castle, arm in arm with one another.

     "I apologize if this question offends you, my Lady, but my soldiers have observed that you and your brother... have a... close relationship," Robb frowns.

"He has always been protective of me," Johanna shrugs.

"Is that why he remains unwed?" He hums.

"I do not know why my brother remains unwed," she snaps.

     "I truly did not intend to cause you discomfort," he admits, stopping in his tracks. "But I do intend to keep my oath. I will protect you, Johanna. I will keep you safe. And if I must keep you safe from him, that I will do."

"He is my brother, Your Grace," she hums. "That is all."

     "If he touches you, I will not hesitate to have him punished," he frowns.

     "I ask that you do not hurt him," she huffs, stopping in her tracks. "He is my brother. Perhaps his intentions may be impure, but he is my brother. I know you understand what it feels like to have a wounded brother, so do me this kindness and leave him unharmed."

     "If need be, I will send him to the Night's Watch," he replies.

     "You cannot-"

     "You are to be my wife," he snaps. "I do not wish to make you upset. However, if he lays a hand on you, there will be consequences for him."

     "He's my brother!" She snarls. "He lays his hands on me quite often!"

     "He should not lay his hands on you in that matter," he argues. "Did he do the same with your sister?"

"Tyshara is dead," she whispers. "Tyshara is dead, and you ask if my brother touched her?!"

     "I did not mean to offend-"

     "Well you have! Seeing as you are grappling with your own tragedies, I thought you would have known how horrible it is to relive them," she snaps.

     "My Lady, please-"

     "No! I understand that you may hate my family, but to slander us like this is inexcusable!"

-

Johanna has always loved the gardens of Casterly Rock.

They offer peace from the often chaotic and uncontrollable nature of the castle. And now that her home has been taken over by Northmen, she especially needs the calm it allows.

Androw finds her sitting on one of the benches, picking the petals off of a flower.

"You have every right to be upset with the king," he sighs as he sits down beside her.

"And why do I feel as though you're about to say the word 'but'?" She frowns.

     "But," he smiles, "he's right. Garlan has a tendency to treat you indecently."

"You are sworn to my brother," she sighs.

"Aye," he nods. "But you are the one I would give my life for."

      "You jest," she laughs.

     "No," he frowns, taking her hands. "You have been my closest friend since we were children. I may be sworn to protect your brother, but if it came down to it, I would kill him for you."

     "Do you think he loves me?" She asks.

     "I think he loves you in ways a brother should not love a sister," he nods.

     "You think he loves me in... oh," she murmurs.

"I believe that he would have used the deaths of your family as an opportunity to wed you, had the king not proposed a marriage," he continues.

"You believe that?" She asks, her voice weakened. "But it's wrong."

"His justification for it regards the Targaryen dynasty," he sighs. "They were the greatest dynasty in history, no one can deny that. And they started with... well, Aegon and his sisters."

     "My brother does not wish to wed me and take the Seven Kingdoms, Androw," she mumbles.

     "He does," he insists. "You must keep yourself safe. You must keep your husband safe, once you wed."

"I do not believe he would harm me," she argues.

"But he will. He will harm you, he will harm your husband, and if you have heirs, he will harm them. For you are the one thing he wants, and he will do whatever he can to keep you to himself," he protests.

     "There are rumors that King Joffrey and his siblings were born of incest," she begins. "People say that my cousins— Jaime and Cersei— have a relationship that is unholy."

     "Unholy is a pretty way of saying incest, Johanna," he frowns.

     "I do not think my brother-"

     "Have you not listened to a word that I've said?" He groans. "You are a pure soul, Johanna. A beautiful, pure soul. But he will use that against you. He will use your innocence and purity to manipulate you into his hands. Please, my Lady, listen to what I say."

"If I were to listen to you, what would you have me do?" She frowns.

He sighs, slips a hand into his pocket, and pulls out a vial. He then presses it into her palm. "Only use this if you deem it completely necessary. One drop can kill a man. The effects may take some time, but it will do the job."

     The Long Farewell.

     "I would not know how to use it-"

     "Slip it into his wine, or his bath, or apply it to your lips and kiss his cheek. Here," he continues, passing her a tiny blue vial, "drink this, if you apply it to yourself."

"I am not a murderer," she whispers.

"There is a difference between saving yourself and murder," he tells her.

-

"Lady Catelyn?"

Catelyn looks to the doorway, and smiles at Johanna. "Come in, Lady Johanna."

"Is this your granddaughter?" Johanna hums, smiling at the babe in Catelyn's arms.

"Aye," Catelyn nods. "She is named Lyanna, after-"

"Lord Eddard's sister," Johanna smiles. "She looks like your son."

"That she does," Catelyn laughs. "Did you need something, Johanna?"

"I would like to ask your permission to bury my family in the crypts," Johanna murmurs. "Their bodies have been in the Sept since you first arrived, and... I would like my family buried in their rightful place."

     "Of course," Catelyn nods. "Have you paid your respects to them?"

     "No," Johanna frowns. "Your men have not allowed me to."

     "I will be having words with my men," Catelyn huffs. "Our families may be enemies, but you should not be denied the right to see your mother and sister."

     "Thank you, Lady Catelyn," Johanna smiles. She goes to leave the room, but Catelyn stops her.

     "You marry my son next week," Catelyn says. "Do you know what that means?"

"I will be his wife," Johanna nods.

"Your children will inherit Winterfell," Catelyn begins. "To raise Northern children is no easy feat."

"I will raise them as my mother raised me," Johanna shrugs. "They will be strong, brave, and empathetic. The North is not so different from Casterly Rock as you may think, my Lady."

notes—
white blank page by mumford and sons is for johanna and garlan... like she loves him to death but his intentions are so cruel

anyways i like including moments of jo and cat because cat very much fills in the maternal role that jo lost

the silver ship references androw: his house sigil is three silver ships