LIONS AND WOLVES | Robb Stark

04 - Uncle Jaime

JOANNA KNEW THAT THE STARKS were holding her uncle captive, and after being informed of his whereabouts within the camp by Alden, who let it slip accidentally and seemed furious with himself, he offered to escort her to see her uncle, knowing that Joanna would struggle getting past the guards.

The two of them walked in silence down to where the Starks were keeping their prisoners, rows of cages lit only by the dim light coming from the braziers scattered around. Joanna straightened her shoulders as they walked, because of all the things her mother had taught her, the idea that confidence was key had always stuck with her.

Alden got them past the guards, and they saw Lady Stark heading away from Jaime Lannister, who was tied rather unceremoniously to a post in the middle of a clearing. When Joanna saw him, she rushed towards her uncle, a gasp leaving her lips when she saw how bad of a shape he was in.

"Uncle Jaime," she whispered, crouching down beside him.

He seemed surprised to see her. "What are you doing here?"

"Keeping myself alive," Joanna replied.

That surprised Jaime even more than seeing her kneeling in the mud before him. "You truly think you're safe here?"

"She's safer than she would be in King's fucking Landing," Alden snapped.

Jaime glanced up at him. "I'm sorry, have we met?"

"Alden Oscura," Alden replied.

"I'm afraid that name doesn't ring a bell," Jaime said.

"Oh, but we know who you are, Kingslayer, and that's all that matters," Alden replied, shrugging.

Joanna turned back to her uncle. "You're hurt."

"Am I really?" Jaime asked sarcastically. "That tends to happen when you get taken prisoner."

"I wish I could say I came with good news, but truly I just wanted to see for myself that you're alive," Joanna said.

"Well, here I am," Jaime said. "Alive, as you can see."

With a sigh, Joanna placed her hand over Jaime's. "I'm sorry, uncle."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he replied. "Although I do rather worry for your head right now. What were you thinking coming here?"

"I came here because if I didn't, then Joffrey would have cut my head off the same way he did Ned Stark's, and nothing that mother nor anyone else attempted would stop him," Joanna answered. "I wasn't safe in King's Landing, and Robb has promised me safety among his men, so this is where I shall stay."

Jaime let out a short breath that sounded almost like a laugh. "I must say, I am very impressed."

Even though he had not fathered her, Jaime had always been fond of Joanna. Ever since she was a child, she had a habit of going for the swords rather than the books, and countless times Jaime had found her playing with a knife she had picked up from who-knows-where. The fact that she was so eager to learn from him was what made him dote on her in the first place, and seeing her now, barely seventeen and already a much braver woman than any he had met made him proud that he played even the smallest part in bringing her to this moment.

"Thank you," Joanna said. "What can I say, though? I learned from the best."

Jaime smiled. "It is good to see you, Joanna."

"As it is to see you, Jaime," she replied, offering him a small smile. "I must go before someone causes a scene."

"You'll come back?" Jaime asked. "You're the closest thing to home that I've seen since being here."

Joanna glanced at Alden, who shrugged. "Not my choice."

"I will try," Joanna promised, squeezing Jaime's hand. "Until then, get some rest, uncle Jaime. I fear it's going to be a long war."

"As do I, little lion," Jaime replied, using his old nickname for Joanna. "As do I."

-

Joanna was summoned to Robb's tent upon returning to Alayna's, and she walked inside knowing exactly what this meeting was going to be about. It was as though she had detailed every aspect of the scene before her - Robb standing before a table lines with papers and battle plans, his eyes boring into hers as she entered.

"So, I hear you paid your uncle a visit," he said.

Joanna nodded. "Is it forbidden of me to see him, because if it was then I had no knowledge of this."

"It's not forbidden," Robb replied. "You may see him as much as you like, unless it's going to change your mind about whose side you're on."

"Have I not made it clear enough that I am on your side?" Joanna asked, raising her eyebrows. "Just because I visited my uncle to assure myself that he is still alive suddenly means that I'm going to become a traitor to your cause? Do you really think so little of me, Stark?"

Robb sighed. "No, it's not that. It's just... men talk, Joanna, and I don't want any of them getting the wrong idea."

"And what might that idea be?" Joanna asked. "That I'm a pawn of the Lannisters and I'm here to send your entire operation to its knees from the inside?"

"That is the general idea."

"How ridiculous," Joanna scoffed. "Do you truly believe that I would have risked my life to come here for the sake of a family that care very little for me?"

Robb shook his head. "I don't believe it, but fraternising with-"

"Fraternising with who?" Joanna asked. "The enemy? Have all of you forgotten that Jaime Lannister is my uncle and I have as much right to talk to him as you have to speak to your mother?"

"I just don't want them to get the wrong idea," Robb said.

Joanna sighed. "What must I do to prove my loyalty to them? I have already sworn fealty to you in front of them. I cannot do much else to sway their opinion of me."

"They'll warm up to you," Robb assured her. "You haven't been around long enough for them to make their own minds up."

"Well, allow me to make their minds up for them," Joanna said. "I may be here because my family want me dead, but let us not forget that I am still a Baratheon and I am not afraid to make that known."

Robb's expression remained sombre for a moment before he grinned. "You really are as fierce as a lion, aren't you?"

"Never question that fact," Joanna replied. "And even if I could claim the Iron Throne, I wouldn't want it. I never asked to be who I am; I don't think I would make a very good queen."

"You truly believe that?" Robb asked.

"I don't know, my father, while good at certain aspects, was the one to plunge Westeros into debt," Joanna replied. "And look at Stannis and Renly. Baratheons and the Iron Throne don't have the best relationship."

"Well, let's not forget you're a Lannister too," Robb said. "Which makes you only half-Baratheon."

"Yes, and now I'm a traitor to the Lannisters," Joanna replied. "Gods, have I made the right decision by coming here?"

Robb smiled at her. "I don't think there's anywhere better for you to be."