Tywin Lannister remembered that day thirteen years ago vividly. His twins, Jaime and Cersei, were four years old and were excited to have a new baby brother or sister when they were told that their mother had gone into labor. He had to admit, though he did not tell many people other than his wife Joanna, he was excited as well. Tywin had never pictured himself to be the type of person to enjoy having a wife and family, but Joanna certainly changed him. On that day thirteen years ago, the bane of his existence was born. His dwarf of a son, Tyrion. Tyrion had almost killed his beloved Joanna to enter this world. The maesters had to work on her for hours after Tyrion was born, and she had almost died. However, they were successful in saving her, but the maesters assured the Lord of Casterly Rock that these would be the only children he would ever have. The golden twins and a dwarf. At least he had an heir in his son Jaime and a daughter that he could use to make a powerful alliance in the future when she became old enough to be married. Joanna loved Tyrion like Tywin could not. To him, Tyrion was a stain on his noble house. Of course Joanna was disappointed that they would not able to have more children, but she was alive and she was going to be able to see their children grow.

That was why it was now a shock that Jaime and Cersei are seventeen, Tyrion is thirteen, and Joanna is in labor with their fourth child. Why the Seven decided to give them another child, Tywin would never know, but from the time Joanna told him she was pregnant Tywin became terrified of the outcome. The last birth almost killed her. Now she was thirteen years older. What would this one do to his beloved wife?

The maester was in the room with his wife and her handmaids and Tywin was in his work room at Caterly Rock surrounded by his children. He couldn't help but think about the disappointments that his children had brought in his life. Jaime was supposed to be his heir, but he was chosen to be a member of the King's Guard instead, giving up any rights to titles or having children. King Aerys had made this appointment two years ago to spite Tywin and steal Tywin's heir away from him. At this, Tywin resigned his position as Hand of the King and had returned home. Cersei was supposed to be married to Aerys's eldest son Rhaegar, but Aerys slighted Tywin again by aligning with House Martel. Now he was left to determine which house he should marry Cersei to so that he could form an alliance that would bring strength to the Lannister name. And the dwarf! The dwarf continued to be the bane of his existence by marrying some lowborn girl that Jaime had rescued from attack. Tywin put an end to this as soon as he found out by having Jaime tell Tyrion that the girl was a whore, then Tywin's men all had their way with the lowborn girl. Of course, Tyrion did not know the truth of the situation. Tywin had Jaime lie to Tyrion so that Tywin could remove the lowborn stain from house. Jaime felt bad about lying to Tyrion, but it was easy to guilt Jaime into doing this to make up for not being Tywin's heir. Now Joanna was having another child. Tywin prayed for his wife's safety most of all, but after he prayed for a son that would become his true heir. Jaime could not inherit Casterly Rock and Tywin would not let the Rock fall into Tyrion's greedy clutches, so he needed another son to right what all had gone wrong with his children in the past few years.

His thoughts were interrupted by a handmaid running into the room without knocking saying, "My Lord Tywin, you must come quickly!"

Without another thought about his disappointments with his current children, he ran after the handmaid and into the room where his wife had just given birth. She was alive but just barely, the maester had told him after telling him that he had another daughter. He rushed to her side, not even thinking about his disappointment in not having a son to inherit his title. He grasped her hand and Joanna said weakly, "Did you see her, Tywin? She is beautiful!"

Tywin fought back tears and said, "I have not seen her yet, but if she is anything like her mother she is sure to be beautiful."

Joanna was not as brave to fight back tears and began to cry saying, "Tywin, you must love her. Make sure she knows how much her mother loved her since I will not be there for her."

Tywin fought a conflict within himself, but promised his wife that he would love their second daughter and asked, "What shall we name her, my love?"

Joanna was losing strength, but with her dying breaths said, "My aunt was named Ellyn and I always loved her name. You must love her and all of our children, Tywin. You must..."

When Joanna passed from this world, he left the room feeling numb and returned to his children. His children, especially Cersei, were devastated with the news of their mother. Cersei ran out of the room without asking about the baby, but Jaime and Tyrion wanted to know about the child. The maester had followed Tywin back and led them to the nursery. The wet nurse had just finished feeding the girl and handed the baby to Tywin who held the girl lovingly in his arms. He was disappointed to not have a son, but he promised his wife that he would love this girl.

He gently handed her to Jaime who asked, "What is her name?"

Tywin replied, "Joellyn. Her name is Joellyn Lannister."

Joellyn closed her trunk and looked one more time around her room in Kings Landing. This room had been her home for the past eight years. She had lived on Casterly Rock with her father until she was eight, then he decided that she would be better off in Kings Landing with her other siblings. Her time at Kings Landing, for the most part, had been pleasant. Her brothers had been very happy to receive her. Jaime and Tyrion both doted on her more than she felt she deserved, but she was glad to be able to spend more time with them, even with their large age difference. Her sister, on the other hand, had always been cold. Tyrion assured her that she should not worry about what Cersei thought of her, but she longed to have a better relationship with her sister. However, Cersei could not forgive the fact that Joellyn being born was the cause of their mother's death, which Joellyn thought was most unfair. Cersei had seventeen years with their mother. Joellyn had none. But Joellyn soon learned to ignore her sister and content herself with the company of her brothers. Tyrion especially.

Her brother by law was the King and he was fond of her in spite of what Cersei's feelings were. She was actually invited to be part of the journey they were taking north to Winterfell. All Joellyn had ever known was Casterly Rock and Kings Landing. She was excited to be traveling north to see more of the Seven Kingdoms. She was more excited because she would be in the company of people her age who were not her nephews or niece. Myrcella and Tommen were fine, they were just quite a bit younger than her. Joffrey, the closest to her age at thirteen years old, was three years younger than her and was quite possibly the worst person she had ever met. As such, she avoided him as much as possible. However, she determined that avoiding both Cersei and Joffrey would probably be difficult on the long journey north.

A servant came to get her trunk from her room and she went down to join the rest of the party that was headed north. Joellyn saw that her sister and her sister's children were entering a carriage and breathed a small sigh of relief. Joellyn did not wish to ride in a carriage because she wanted to see as much of the Seven Kingdoms as possible on their trip to see the Starks and was going to be riding horseback with her two natural brothers. Well, probably just with Tyrion. Jaime would be expected to be up with the King, just in case any trouble were to appear while they were on the road.

As she, with the assistance of a squire, mounted her horse, she thought of the letter that her father had written her. Her father expressed his happiness that she was going north to meet the Starks and encouraged her to try to get to know the eldest two Stark children. Joellyn had her suspicions that her father was arranging something between her and one of Lord Stark's children. Why else would he be pleased that she was traveling so far from home? But she put that from her mind at the moment. She was about to go on a journey with her dear brothers and was not expected to spend all of the journey with her sister.

Her brother Jaime rode up beside her and asked, "Jo, are you sure you would not be more comfortable in the carriage with Cersei?"

Joellyn rolled her eyes and looked at Jaime saying, "Jaime, you know as well as I do that Cersei and I will both be happier out of each other's company."

He smirked in reply and said, "As you wish, sister. Enjoy our brother's company then. I must join our brother by law," he groaned.

Though the king was kind to Joellyn, he was less than kind to Jaime. King Robert took great delight in calling Jaime "Kingslayer" and having him keep watch at the door whenever he partook in activities that dishonored their sister. Jaime guarded the king out of duty to his vows and family. Joellyn knew he did not enjoy the time he spent with Robert.

Shortly before they set off for Winterfell, Joellyn was joined by Tyrion who said, "Well, sweet baby sister, are you ready for our journey to the harsh, cold north to see the wolves?"

Joellyn replied sarcastically, "Now brother, you making it sound so wonderful is only going to make me more excited than I already am!" Then, after a pause asked, "Why, do you not look forward to it?"

Tyrion scoffed and said, "Cersei only invites you and I both because of our Lord Father. She would rather us not be going and I do not particularly care freeze my cock off in the North."

"Well brother," Joellyn said, "we shall just have to be content with each other's company and pray to the seven that you cock does not freeze off. There would be many whores in Kings Landing sad for it to be gone."

Tyrion laughed heartily saying, "Only because they would then lose the Lannister gold that I bring them."

The party soon left Kings Landing and began the long journey North to Winterfell and the Starks.