Of Lions, Wolves, and Dragons (Jon Snow)

9. The New King

The sleep that Joellyn had to clear her head and make her think more clearly had not worked.  Joellyn had been awoken by her handmaiden a few hours ago, but she could still not make up her mind as to what she wanted to do.  There were definite positive and negative aspects of both courses of action.

If she stayed in King's Landing, she would not have to marry Robb.  This was more for Robb's benefit than it was for Joellyn's.   Robb deserved a wife who could love him wholeheartedly.  As good a man as Robb is, she did not think she would ever be able to love him as he deserved.  Staying in King's Landing also meant that she would be reunited with Tyrion whenever he was able to get away from Lady Catelyn.  She should be able to see that Tyrion is too smart and too good to attempt to murder a boy.  Besides, Tyrion was also smart enough that he would find his own way out if need be.  Joellyn longed to see Tyrion again.  However, if she stayed in King's Landing, she would be dealing with the aftermath of Ned's plans to reveal the true father of Cersei's children.  If Ned succeeded, Joellyn would be witness to the shame of her sister, her brother, her nephews, her niece, and her father.  If Ned did not succeed, Joellyn would likely see him be imprisoned or executed.  Even if staying in King's Landing meant she didn't have to marry Robb, she did not want to see any harm come to Ned Stark or his familiy.  There was also the risk to her safety.  Joellyn had made it clear, many times, that she was fond of the Starks.  If Ned was imprisoned or executed, her loyalties might end up being called into question.

If she went to Winterfell, she could escape any risk to her safety.  Leaving King's Landing would mean that she was safe from either seeing her family shamed or seeing Ned punished for his actions.  Going to Winterfell would also mean that she would be abandoning her family name.  If Ned's plans were successful, abandoning her family name wouldn't really make a difference.  But if Ned was punished for his actions, the Lannister family would come after her with a vengence, and this would cast Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon, and Catelyn all into danger because she chose her safety over theirs.  This would also mean that she would likely never see any of her family ever again.  As she weighed both her options, she knew exactly what she was going to choose.  She could not let her own safety be the priority.  The safety of the entire Stark family was worth more than making sure that she was safe.  Ned would likely be disappointed, but Joellyn knew this was the right decision.  Her place was in King's Landing with her family.  That was the only way she felt that she could offer Robb and his family any protection at all.

Joellyn went to find Ned so that she could share her decision with him.  She did not want to be the one to have to tell Robb about ending their engagement.  Ned could write to his son and explain the situation so that Robb would be hearing it from his father rather than a girl whose family was about to become the enemy.  As she left her room, Joellyn noticed that the Keep was busier than normal.  Unsure of what could cause this, Joellyn went to the Throne Room to see if there was a gathering in there.  She did not find a large crowd of people, but she did find her sister sitting on the steps leading to the throne.  Joellyn hesitated at first on if she really wanted to ask Cersei about what was happening, but Cersei heard her enter and called her to her side.

As she sat beside her, Cersei asked, "I suppose you have heard the news?"

Joellyn shook her head saying, "I had not.  I was not feeling well, so I was resting for a while in my room.  When I left my room, I could tell something had happend, but I did not know what.  What is happening, Cersei?"

Cersei made a scoffing noise and said, "What has not happened?  You know that Robert went on a hunt with some of his men?  Well, he drank too much and was skewered by a boar.  He is in his bed dying, and ran me out so that he could talk to his love, Ned Stark."

Joellyn felt pity for Cersei in spite of herself.  Cersei and Robert had never really shared love for each other, but it had to hurt that her husband was dying and did not want her by his side, "I am sorry, Cersei."