Joanna the defiant

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Joanna slips back into the castle that night after everyone was sure to be in their beds she couldn't stand to see anyone at the moment. She would have to announce tomorrow to all about her new status and relieve her guard for duty. The hardest would be letting Ser Barren go he had been like a second father to her, she couldn't bare to think about not having him as well as her own father in her life. She sits in her bed starring at the corner of the wall across from her not being able to sleep when a knock comes from her door. "Yes?" She croaks her voice hoarse from crying all day. The door creaks open and Robb steps through his hand rubbing at the back of his neck, looking like the boy he truly was as he shifts from spot to spot his big blue eyes peeking at her through lashes. "I couldn't sleep, I haven't seen you since you ran off. I was worried." He explains sheepishly as if she would yell at him for bothering her or possibly Something else. She finally looks up at him her usual beautiful face marred. Her porcelain skin was now a splotchy red mess and her eyes and nose were puffy and swollen with red bloodshot eyes and dark purple and black rings around her eyes, she looked on the verge of death. "He's gone. Really gone." She whispers as if it's the first time she has realized this and perhaps it was, she had always scoffed when the council would talk about what would happen after her father died. He was Robert Baratheon! He was her father, he couldn't never die! She has been young and naive thinking he was the warrior himself. A God was immortal after all. "I'm sorry." Robb says his voice Ernest and his eyes soft. "I was a stupid little girl. Of course this would happen one day with his drinking and whoring and hunting!" She yells angry at her self angry at her father and bloody pissed at the damn boar. "You aren't stupid all children believe their father in invincible. The unlucky few of us just catch on sooner than the rest." He tells her his own voice filling with emotion causing her to look at him again but with a new light. She sees the worry and pain on his own face that she hadn't noticed due to the servility of her own. "What did you letter say?" She asks having fun off before she could hear. Robb sighs sitting down on the edge of her bed his hands resting on his face. "My father has been arrested for treason, they say he tried to steal your brothers throne." He explains causing Joanna to gasp sitting up on her knees and shuffling closer to Robb.
"How could they say that your father is no traitor. he'd sooner cut himself down with ICE than betray my father on his deathbed!" Robb nods his agreement with a sigh. "I've called my banners they will be arriving by the end of the week, we are going to war Joanna." He explains looking guiltily up at her, this was her own family he was talking about but they had wronged his family thrice over. "A battle you are sure to win Robb Stark." She tells him with a soft smile pride in her voice.

"I'll leave you to sleep." He goes to get up when her hand falls to his arm. "Please stay, I don't want to be alone." She begs her thoughts were to much and to loud in the empty dark room and Robb had been the light to guid her back to reality. She would mourn her father but she had to keep herself from her own grave. "You are never alone, I'm here for you." He promises climbing into the bed onto of the furs to keep her modesty. She lays back down with her hand splayed across his forearm grounding herself. "Goodnight." She bids closing her eyes and letting sleep take her, her body so exhausted from crying that she is out instantly. "Goodnight my love." He whispers softly as not to wake her before closing his own eyes.

The next morning Joanna wakes to an empty bed the furs still wrinkled and warm from where Robb had been meaning he couldn't have left to long ago. Getting up she slips on a simple brown gown with a black belt and lacings down the sleeves. She straps her sword to her waist and sets off to find Robb to asks him to call a council meeting for her. She slips down to the grand hall where she finds the Maester. "Excuse me Master have you seen Lord Robb around?" She asks politely the old man Turning to her with a warm smile with a hint of pity to it. "He, young bran and Theon went off for a ride not an hour ago." He informs causing her smile to drop. "Oh, thank you." She goes to turn around. "Was thee something you needed child?" He asks her causing her to smile forcibly and shake her head softly. "No it can wait. Thank you." She tell him scurrying off to find a place to hide for the day all she was receiving were looks of pity or disgust from the northerners she had considered her friends. She goes to find Rickon who is sat in his room with a piece of wood shaped as a knight in his little chubby hand. He looks up to her as she walks in his open door a confused and hurt look on his face. "Robb says that father can't come home because the knights won't let him." He tell her glaring down at his once beloved toy. Joanna sighs sitting down on her knees in front of the boy picking up another figure a king who resembled no one in particular. "The knights are guarding your father to make sure he stays where he is supposed to. But the knights are payed you see, they take orders from their king. So it's not the knights fault, as it's not a servants fault if their lord doesn't serve the food a guest wants at a feast. Do you understand?" She asks the little boy knowing his and his older brother had always loved and wanted to be a knight when they got older. It was a dream already ruined for bran and she didn't wish the same on little Rickon. His father would want him to understand that innocent people sometimes have to do things that seem bad to others. "So it's the kings fault?" He asks reaching to take the wood out of her hands and puts the knight back on the floor neatly. "Yes. My little brother is still a child. He just lost his father and was forced to become king before he was ready. He is confused and upset and he was looking for someone to blame and unfortunately he mistook your fathers help for harm." She explains giving her brother a good light about him she wished she could believe herself. But she knew the true monster that hid under golden hair and delicate age. She she refused to ever allow Rickon to see that side of the world not so young not when she could help it.