𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋 || 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Chapter 9

Note: Sorry I haven't updated in a while, guys! I've had family stuff going on and haven't had a chance to write that much. Also I apologize for the lack of Jaime in this chapter BUT he will be in the next chapter a LOT and a lot in it from here on out :) Hope you like it! :)

When we finally arrived at the camp two weeks later, it was dusk. Immediately, I was met by a squire who led me through the maze of people to a large dark red tent in the middle of the field. I picked up my skirts as I walked, trying not to get it wet on the dewy grass. As we walked up to the tent, I stopped. All of a sudden, I was nervous. I hadn't seen my mother and younger brother since before we left for King's Landing months ago. Had they heard the news of father's death yet? Knots formed in my stomach as the flap of the tent was jerked away and a dark curly head poked out. Piercing blue eyes met my dark brown ones and a tentative smile graced my face.

"Joan," Robb breathed out and ran over to me, engulfing me in a hug.

I wrapped my arms around him tightly and rested my head on his shoulder, his dark brown curls tickling my face.

"I missed you," I whispered, tears pricking my eyes.

Pulling away from me, he took in my disheveled appearance and brushed his thumbs across my cheeks where my tears had fallen. He smiled then, taking my nervousness away.

"Come on," he said, taking my hand, "Come see mother."

Trudging across the wet grass once more, I followed behind him into the tent. The warm air hit my face as I entered and a gasp rose up. I turned my head to where the sound had emanated and my eyes met my mother's. Her dark red hair was pinned in the back and the rest was spread across her shoulders.

"Mom," I choked out and before I knew it, I was swept up into her arms.

Burying my head in her shoulder, she held me close. I breathed in the scent of roses then and I knew I was back where I belonged. Suddenly extracting myself from her embrace, I looked up into her eyes.

"Father...he..." I said, barely able to get the words out.

She nodded then, tears filling her blue eyes and took my hands in hers.

"I know...We got word from King's Landing a few days past..." she said, trailing off.

She led me over to a chair and I sat down gently.

"I'm glad that I'm back with the both of you," I said, smiling sadly, "I just wish that Sansa, Arya, Jon, Bran, and Rickon were here too...so we could all be together..."

A look passed between my mother and brother and I glanced up at the both of them.

"What? What aren't you telling me?" I asked quietly, fearful of what they could be hiding.

"On the battlefield, we captured Jaime Lannister..." mother started and my heart caught in my throat at the mention of his name, "Joan...he was the one who pushed Bran out of the tower..."

"What?" I breathed, barely believing it, "But how? Why?"

My brother shook his head then and I saw anger flash in his eyes.

"He wouldn't say. Although I have reason to believe it has to do with his affair with the Queen," he said, crossing his arms over his silver armor.

I nodded, "I'm sure that it is the reason..."

Robb looked at me in surprise and licked my dry lips before continuing.

"I overheard father confronting Queen Cersei about it before he..." I trailed off.

Robb was the one to nod this time and didn't press me any further. Clearing her throat, mother got up before taking me by the wrist.

"Come on, you probably want to rest after such a long journey." she said softly as she led me out of the tent.

Under Catelyn's orders, one of the squires took me to my designated tent and I smiled at him before he walked off to re-join the others. Stepping into the small tent, I looked around and saw a cot was set up as well as a compact brown table with a chair standing next to it. It wasn't much but at least I was with my family once more. An ache began in my chest then as I thought of my sisters - one still in King's Landing with that awful Queen and her brat of a son and the other lost somewhere. A frown appeared on my face as I removed my cloak and draped it over the chair. Walking over to the cot, I picked up the folded blanket at the end and shook it out before lying down.

I pulled the blanket up to my neck and my dark eyes glanced up at the ceiling of my tent. One day we'd be reunited though, somewhere deep down I just knew it...