J
oanna was lying on Robb's chest listening to his beating heart. If she would focus long enough she could hear their hearts beating as one. So this is love, she thought. Loving someone so much that every fibre in her body was intertwined with his. Their hearts marching as one and even their breaths moving in perfect sync. Joanna never wanted the moment to end. She wanted to lay in his arms for the rest of her days and forever stare into his blue eyes.
His breath was relaxed as Joanna only stared at him. Her skin glowing for their eventful night. Never had she imagined on being so - intimate with anyone and now that she has she could not get enough of him. He was intoxicating. The smell, his voice even the ridiculous smirk he plastered on his face every time he'd smirk.
"I'm surprised to see you here. Figured you'd try and cover your tracks. " He laughed as he sat up, Joanna wrapping her legs around his strong torso as her fingers played with his chest hair
"No point in that my king. After last I think everyone is well aware of our current - situation." Joanna replied
"Not my fault you can't keep your voice down. If I remember it started to get louder when my hand -" Her breath hitched as she felt his hand move down between her thighs teasing her. Joanna biting her lip in temptation.
"Stop, it's daylight. I have to leave soon." She kissed his lip unafraid
"But you just said -"
"I know... but you're mother..." Joanna hesitated. Ever since arriving she could feel her relationship dwindle with Catelyn. She was grateful to Joanna who saved Bran but her suspicions of Joanna made her become more distant.
"Well she wouldn't have much to say if you were my wife." Robb confidentially boasted. Joanna laughed in hysteria - until she looked back to Robb to see the seriousness in his face.
"Wait - surely you don't mean..."
"I do - Joanna Lannister, marry me. " He took her hand as he kissed her bruised knuckles. Joanna bit her lip as she held her hands to his face bringing their bodies closer to one another
"Robb, I'm scared. I love you but -"
"Why can't that be enough. I love you Joanna and it hurts me too much to not be with you. To not have you as mine. " Joanna felt her heart swell. This was everything she'd always wanted but there were too many risks
"What about the Freys?" she nervously asked
"Fuck the Freys and fuck the agreement. I'll never love another like I do you. So I ask again - Joanna Lannister, eldest of Cersei and Jaime Lannister, the valiant lioness, marry me. Share my life with me and rule with me." Joanna bit her lip as she excitingly nodded her head. Her lips immediately impacting with his.
Nothing could ruin this day - nothing.
"Robb, before you begin." Catelyn begged as her son, Lord Karstark and Joanna entered her chambers.
"Catelyn why?" Joanna asked sympathetically hoping to be the voice of reason to simmer Robb's anger
"No, I want to know why the Kingslayer has been released." He spoke with true hatred in his voice. Joanna took hold of his hand. Catelyn felt ashamed - not for them but the fact that she caused so much burden to him. She couldn't bear look Robb in the eyes but she had to
"For the girls."
"You betrayed me." he quickly replied with disappointment in his voice
"Robb-"
"No! You knew I wouldn't allow it and you did it anyway. Arya has been brought back thanks to Joanna and once again you prove to me that you can not be trusted. You have weakened our position." he argued.
"Bran and Rickon were captives in Winterfell, Sansa captive in Kings Landing and for the longest time we had no idea where Arya was." she reasoned with him
"I have five children and only two are free."
"My lady, Lord Karstark lost his sons. They deserved justice with Jaime." Joanna stated. Catelyn looked to her in surprise - but Joanna knew well enough there was no longer point in hiding the nature of her parents
"Killing Jaime Lannister would not buy life for his children." she argued
"Returning him to Kings Landing was my only getting Sansa back."
"My father has played you for a fool my lady. He would never intend on bringing her back." Joanna's tone dropped. Robb couldn't look at his mother
"You have weakened our position. You've brought discord into our camp. And you did all of this behind my back - I vowed I'd get my sisters back and you didn't trust me enough to see my plan through." The mother and son stared at each other as Robb spoke
"You will be guarded day and night-"
"Robb..."
a final arrow shot through Joanna's bows. Arya smirked confidantally to Shae and Joanna. The two women taking pride in training the young girl.
"You're definitely getting better little one."
"Does this mean we'll get to fight with swords yet?" Arya eagerly asked
"Not yet, not today at least." Joanna answered as she bit on her nail. Not out of fear but rather giddy. Shae and Arya turned to each other knowing well enough why she had such a reaction
"So is it a boy or girl?" Shae asked as they walked through the forrest
"What?" Joanna questioned in a flustered tone
"Oh please, you may be a genius but you're horrible at self control." Isabella teased.
"So what happens now?" She asked. Joanna was hesitant to answer. She knew the answer but it was how she'd answer that would be the problem.
"Robb asked for my hand in marriage... and I said yes." She answered confidantally. Arya and Isabella looked pleased but Shae stared at her with a blank expression.
"He what? Joanna... no..."
"Shae-"
"You realise we need that bridge. We need the Freys as allies. What about his betrothal to Walder Freys daughter?" she asked in annoyance
"Shae, whether you like it or not I'm marrying him. We tried to fight against our feelings but we just can't. I love him and he loves me. Why can't you just be happy for me?"
"Because you're playing with fire and you will get burned. Listen to me- "
"No." Joanna replied in a stern tone
"I spent my entire life having people tell me what to do - what not to do. I refuse to let anyone tell me what I can do now. I'm going to marry Robb and that's my final decision. You can either support us or say nothing at all but do not lecture me on how to live my life." She stated and for a moment Shae did not see Joanna anymore but rather Cersei Lannisters.
Catelyn sat down her glass of wine in her hand. She needed as she could feel a vein in her head about to burst from the sudden news.
"Walder Frey is a dangerous man to cross." she wanred Robb
"l know that."
"And you mean to do it anyway?"
"l love her." he calmy stated unapologetically
"l know that seems important to you-" she sighed but Robb was very quick to interrupt
"lt is important to me."
"Your father didn't love me when we married." she told him "He hardly knew me or l him. Love didn't just happen to us. We built it slowly over the years,
stone by stone, for you, for your brothers and sisters, for all of us. lt's not as exciting as
secret passion in the woods. But it is stronger and it lasts longer."
"And that is what would be in store for me
with one of Walder Frey's daughters? What you and father had?" Robb dared his mother but somehow it sounded like an insinuation
"Why not? Because she's not beautiful, determined or intelligent as Joanna?"
"Now you're arguing just to argue because you arranged it." He argued back
"And you agreed to it. You gave him your word. Treat your oaths recklessly, and your people will do the same. lf your father lived his life for one thing..."
"My father is dead. And the only parent I have left has no right to call anyone reckless." He said his final peace before storming off.
Tyrion sat in his bed the scar cut through his face paining with every breath he took. He drank - to numb whatever feeling was still in his body although after the battle of Blackwater all he could feel was pain and humiliation. He looked out the window and wondered about her - how she was, was she safe
"How is she?" he asked, his voice still hoarse. Varys sat across his bed looking to his friend in deep sympathy
"Word has it she escaped the same night Lord Tywin left to travel South. That's why she could escape with Arya St-"
"That's not what I asked." Tyrion snapped before looking to his friend apologetically
"She plans to marry him. Despite it all they do love each other." Varys answered. Tyrion knew there was truth to his words. He imagined the Starks weren't overwhelmed by their visit in Winterfell but as Jaime stated the boys heart immediately stopped when he took one glance at his niece. He loved her before he even knew her.
"A Stark and a Lannister. Seems like the gods have truly flipped the coin. Putting innocent children with each other with families who couldn't hate each other more." Tyrion ironically laughed before taking another sip
"Indeed. Could you imagine the kings reaction should the news reach him." Varys wondered humourously
"Imagine it Varys. Robb Stark marrying a Lannister and rulilng as King and Queen in the North. Tywin Lannister would as rumours say truly shit gold." He chuckled
"I see a bigger picture. I imagine they'd march South, defeating all their enemies. One would take the Throne."
"You don't think Joffrey would fight againts that?" He sarcastically asked knowing well enough Jofrrey wouldn't even be able to hold the dagger Joanna had mastered by age nine.
"Who do you see on the throne if not your nephew?"
"We both the answer to that question. A Stark and a Lannister. As much as her mother wants to fight it our families will forever be intwined with one another. Our houses will be joint. Should Joanna succeed in this war -"
"She'd take the Iron Throne." Varys answered with the realisation dawning on him
"Indeed. She's playing the Game of Thrones and the best part is she doesn't even realise it."
In the forrest they stood. The cold wind brushing past her blushing cheeks. A Maester in between the two lovers. Arya stood behind her brother proud that he found his soulmate, Bayla swallowing the lump of joy in her throat and Shae light-heartely smiled. She wanted them to be happy and lead a prosperous life she did, but somehow she felt like this was the start of a never ending nightmare.
"In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon one another and say the words." He spoke as Robb and Joanna looked to one another with nothing but adore in their eyes.
"Father, smith, warrior, mother, maiden, crone, stranger. I am hers and she is mine."
"I am his and he is mine from this day until the end of my days." The recited as the Maester wrapped the ribbon around their interlocked hands. Joanna enthusiastically placed her hand on Robbs cheek, leaning in as they kissed passionately.
Kings Landing, Winterfell, The Riverrun it didn't matter. None of them felt like home. She'd always felt like some part was missing but him Robb she felt at ease and home. His lips, his hands even his heartbeat felt like it was made to match hers and only hers.
She felt a sense of pride in being his wife. Being Joanna Stark.