LIONS AND WOLVES | Robb Stark

08. Letters from Mother 𓃬

THE RAVEN CAME BEARING A LETTER. It was tightly-rolled, sealed with the Lannister lion in crimson red wax. A Stark soldier brought it directly to Joanna, whom it was addressed to, hovering awkwardly in the entrance of the tent she shared with Joanna. The two of them were helping one another with their armour when the Stark soldier finally cleared his throat.

"Pardon the intrusion, My Ladies," he said. "But a raven arrived from King's Landing for the princess."

Joanna looked up in confusion. "For me?"

"You're the princess, aren't you?" Alayna asked. "He certainly doesn't mean me."

"Yes, My Lady," the man replied, handing Joanna the scroll. "It's from the Queen Regent."

"Thank you," Joanna said, staring down at the seal of her mother. "You may go."

When he was gone, Alayna leaned over Joanna's shoulder. "What does it say? It can't be any more shocking than Robb asking you to marry him."

After Robb dropped the idea of marriage on Joanna and she had insisted on a few days to think about it, she'd gone back to her tent and told Alayna immediately. Her few days were dwindling at a rate Joanna wasn't comfortable with and she was still no closer to coming up with an answer.

In an ideal world, marrying Robb would secure an alliance between the houses of Baratheon and Stark, ensuring that they never faced one another on the battlefield, but this wasn't a perfect world. Joanna was as estranged from Stannis and Renly as she was from the Lannisters now, so any marriage between them would hold no political standing. Marrying Robb might be the worst decision she could possibly make.

She didn't want to be the Queen; she didn't want the burdens that came with the responsibility. She'd never been raised to take the crown, despite her father's final order being to give it to her. Power was a disease, reaching into one's soul and rotting it from the inside out. But perhaps, somehow, she could make it work with Robb? He was a kind man and had already promised not to expect anything of her that she wasn't willing to give. 

The decision was perhaps the hardest choice she'd ever had to make when it should have been easy.

With trembling fingers, Joanna broke the seal on her mother's letter and slowly unrolled the parchment, fearing what she should find inside. She should have been able to read it, but the sight of her name had her turning to Alayna and holding it out.

"I can't," she said, handing her friend the letter. "Read it for me."

Alayna took the parchment and cleared her throat. "Alright, it says: 'My darling Joanna-" At this, Alayna stopped and pretended to gag. "By now I fear you have entered the wolf's den and I am fearful for your safety. I have received Robb Stark's conditions and I refuse to accept anything less than my brother's return. He is your uncle as well, my darling, let us not forget, and family is more important than anything else. I also write to inform you that should you continue on this path of insolence, banding together with those treasonous Starks, then I am afraid you shall be spared no mercy if you are ever apprehended.' What the fuck?" Alayna stopped herself and turned to Joanna. "Is she fucking serious?"

"She is never anything but serious," Joanna replied. "What does the rest say?"

Alayna looked horrified as she continued. "'You shall be spared no mercy if you are ever apprehended. Therefore I implore that you return home, where you will stand trial before King Joffrey for your sins against the crown. I would hope that the King will show mercy towards his sister. After all, this could all be pinned on the grief of losing your father.' Bitch, you killed him!" Alayna paused for a moment to collect herself after her outburst. "Gods, my blood is boiling. Anyways: 'I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to remind you that this is a war and you are but a child playing soldier. As I have always said, my darling Joanna, lions and wolves do not make good playmates. Your grandmother would be disappointed with you.' Then she signs off and that's everything."