A Game of Spring

When the first signs of spring came, Joanna's uncle, Lord Tytos Lannister, held a great feast in celebration. Joanna came in company of her brother, although Stafford soon wondered off. He was older. He did things Joanna did not understand, or want to understand, for that matter. He was fond of talking to grown men and women. Let him, Joanna thought. She was a lion too, she didn't need anyone to look after her.

Joanna had a talent of finding her way, even if her 10th name day had only been two moons earlier. Causally she made her way through the hall. The lights shone brightly all around. There were beautiful ladies and handsome lord to be seen everywhere. The hall was full of life. Full of laughter and chatter and music. Full of color.

Wondering through the crowds Joanna was soon found by just the little lady she had been hoping to find. Little Genna.

Gennas Septa had squeezed her into a far too small dress, and her discomfort was all too visible. It was a gorgeous Lannister red dress with tiny golden beads sewed into the hem and the neckline. A roaring lion broche decorated her chest.

"Joanna!" the lion pup squealed. "Oh I am so happy you came!"

Joanna embraced her warmly. She enjoyed Gennas presents. For her age, Genna was not at all a stupid girl. And aside from that, they always had something to talk about.

Joanna always loved staying at Casterly Rock. Ever since that time when they had played chess in the library Genna and her had been insuperable. They would talk and play the day away and when night came they would secretly sneak into each other's rooms and play a little more, till they were so exhausted they would collapse on their beds.

Sometimes they would be joined in their silly games by one of Genna brothers. Tygett or Gerion. Joanna loved those times. Gerion was a good dancer and Tygett always had a joke or two up his sleeve. Kevin and Tywin barley ever showed their faces. They fashioned themselves too old for such childish amusments.

The last time Joanna had been at the Rock was a year ago. She had missed it so much.

"Genna, I am so happy to see you again! And you have grown so much!"

"You have grown too you know. You must be at least as tall as Tygett or maybe even Gerion! Oh Joanna, I love your dress!"

Joannas dress was simple compared to Gennas. Even though Joanna was only 10, she knew the difference between her family and that of the main line, which Genna belonged to. Her dresses were never as fine as those that Genna wore. Noor did she have very much Jewelry.

Joanna wore a red dress too, but it was not new. She had worn it quite a few times already. Still, she loved that dress. It was her best. Only the best of the best in enough for the little lion! Her Mather would say over and over and over when Joanna would get ready.

"Thank you, my lady, yours is simply splendid!"

Pleased with the compliment the little girl took Joannas arm and dragged her across the hall to show her all that was there to see.

Genna showed Joanna all her aunts and uncles and distant relatives she herself barely knew. Noble guests who all gritted their teeth and bowed or curtsied to Genna. They showed no such curtsies to Joanna. They barely did for the child of their lord, why should they bow to someone like Joanna?

When Genna had paraded Joanna all the way through the hall, finally Tygett and Gerion found them.

"Joanna! How wonderful to see you!" Gerion greeted her warm heartedly while Tygett swept her up to spin her around, making her squeal with joy.

"You must put me down, my lord, I have not shown you the curtsies you deserve as a lord! If I do not, I am quite afraid my mother will kill me!" Joanna protested between fits of laughter.

Gerion immediately got out his wooden practice sword, waving it around as if fending someone of, "Do not be afraid lady Joanna, I will protect you. Come, evil mother, if you dare!" Of course, that sent Joanna and Genna giggling once more.

"If you children are quite done, Lord Tytos would like to see the lady Joanna in his private chamber." Genna jumped at the harsh voice of a woman behind her, Joanna however found her wits quicker than the rest of them. Swiftly she fixed her hair and dress then turned around to face the woman that had spoken to them.

The woman was dressed in richer silks then Genna herself and the jewels that hung at her stubby neck were most splendid. Joanna had seen this woman before. However she did not remember her. Judging by the cloths and jewelry she must have been a very important lady. Such a lady would need to be shown the proper curtsies. A deep curtsy would have to do, but when she was only half as low down as she had meant to go, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her back up.

It was a strong grip. The hands of a man for sure. But why would someone keep her from showing her respect to such a nobble lady as was in front of her? Before she had time to look at the body to which this hand belonged, he spoke in a clear voice.

"Out of my way. I will take her myself!"

As soon as he had spoken the words, Tywin almost dragged Joanna forwards. All the lady could do was glare at him with big beady eyes and step out of the way for he would have walked right into her and took Joanna with him. Joanna could not help but think that it would have been a very soft landing, had they fallen onto the heavy woman.

Joanna tried to look back at the ladies and lords in the hall. Had they seen what had gone on? Where they as confused as she was, or did they perhaps have some more information Joanna did not possess?

"Don't look at her." Tywin hissed next to her. Only now, Joanna really noticed who was next to her.

"My lord… I'm afraid I don't understand. Who was that La-"

"She" he almost spit the word as if it where some awful poison in his mouth, "is not a lady. She is nothing. Not to anyone."

They did not speak again while they walked swiftly down the halls of Casterly Rock. Not until Tywin stopped in front of the doors of his father's private chambers.

"Don't be frightened, I will come in with you." He whispered as the guards pushed open the doors.

Don't be frightened? What was there to be frightened of? Why had her uncle called on her? What was he going to ask of her? Whatever it was, Joanna was determined not to be frightened of anyone or by anything. With or without Tywin.

Once more she fixed her appearance and walked into the chamber.

It was a large room with nearly no windows. It was warm and quiet inside. Candles light up the room and a fire was burning in a great fireplace to one side. It was carved out of blood marble. The kind that the dragons had brought with them from old Valyria. Her mother had told her the story of the blood marble very often when she had been young. It was said of course that dragons blood had turned the stone so red.

In the center of the room was a long table. It too was beautifully carved and decorated. Roaring lion heads made of sparkling gold sat at each corner of the table. Many papers and scrolls where littered all over the shiny wood of the table.

At the end of the long table sat a small man. He was not really small when standing up, Joanna supposed. But under the gigantic Lannister banner hanging behind him and next to the majestic trinkets left here by their ancestors, he seemed to cower like a poor man of inferior birth. It was sad, almost.

"Ah, Joanna. You have grown into a fine young woman in these past months." Her uncle welcomed her with these meaningless words as she curtsied to him.

"Thank you, my lord. May I also thank you for your invitation to this ball and the honor of being addressed by you in such a private way."

Her mother had taught her what to say in every possible situation. Not that she, or Joanna even, had expected something like this to happen.

Tytos chuckled. He of course was very pleased by her gratitude and flattery.

"You must be wondering why I have called on you. Well, let me ease your anticipation and just tell you."