The maester's hands were cold against Joanna's neck as he cradled her head to look at her lip. The wound, which had been inflicted the night before, had stopped bleeding, but felt swollen and tender to the touch.
"Well," the maester mumbled, "it will heal with no scar, but I am afraid it will bruise. The hands will heal faster."
Joanna's heart sank. She wanted to avoid seeing the princess, or anyone at court, until her split lip was more easy to conceal.
"Is there nothing you can do, Maester Pycelle?" Joanna asked desperately.
Maester Pycelle hummed in contemplation. "I could give you a salve, but it will sting, and it smells appalling." He searched his patient's eyes.
Joanna nodded. "I will take it. Will it help?"
"It should speed healing a bit. A day, maybe."
Joanna sighed, and nodded. The maester chuckled, and placed his hand on Joanna's upper thigh in a gesture she was meant to interpret as comforting, but felt was something else.
"Accidents do happen, my child. Just be more careful where you're going, next time," the middle-aged man said. When he did not move his hand, Joanna rose and walked to the maester's table, where several potions and decoctions lay in orderly fashion. The maester followed, his chain clinking as he did so. He moved his sleeve out of the way, and reached for a small pot in the back. He placed it in Joanna's hand.
"If you need anything else at all, dear girl, I will be glad to help," he said.
Joanna nodded. "Thank you, Maester Pycelle. Shall I return what I do not use?"
"Oh no," he said, walking her to the door of his laboratory. "Always good to have on hand for small scrapes and bruises."
Joanna hoped she would never need it again, but took it all the same. She left Pycelle's laboratory, and rejoined her handmaiden, who had agreed to escort her to see Pycelle.
"Thank you for waiting, Fiora," she said, trying to ignore the sad look in her handmaiden's eyes.
"It is nothing, my lady," she said. They walked a while silently before Fiora spoke again. "My lady, I don't mean to overstep, but… that cut. Your hands…"
"I'm just a bit clumsy, Fiora, that's all." Joanna almost convinced herself.
"My lady," Fiora stopped before they got too close to the Lannister corridor. Joanna looked back. "I have seen a few ladies at court with those kinds of injuries. The ladies who have them don't stay at court long." Joanna could see in her eyes she knew.
"Fiora," she started, taking one of her handmaid's hands in hers reassuringly, "I would not be here if there was anything for me to be ashamed of." She paused, making sure Fiora got her meaning. "And if anyone asks, that's what you'll tell them. Do you understand?" Joanna's voice was not warning or threatening.
"Yes, Lady Joanna," Fiora said, a look of relief on her face.
With the matter put behind them, they walked back to the corridor and settled back in to her chambers. When the door shut, Joanna looked in her mirror and touched the skin that had started to bruise. With a sigh she opened Pycelle's salve, and put her nose to it. She recoiled, but scrunching her face, she dipped a finger in it, and smoothed it over her lip, and on the heels of her palms.
She paused at her vanity, and considered sending Fiora to tell Princess Rhaella she was not feeling well. Deciding it would look even worse if she did not show up at the princess's quarters, Joanna secured the lid on the awful-smelling medicine, and turned to leave again for Princess Rhaella's quarters.
"My lady, are you still going to the princess?" Fiora asked, while stripping Joanna's bed linens.
"Yes, Fiora," Joanna said, straightening herself up. "As I said before, I have nothing to be ashamed of. If King's Landing wants to talk, let them."
Fiora could not believe Joanna's brazen attitude, but stopped her work nonetheless in order to escort her to Rhaella's.
"I am sorry you are tasked with escorting me places, Fiora," Joanna said. "My father was quite insistent."
Joanna turned the knob of her door, and made to exit, but was stopped short at the figure before her door.
"Ser Barristan," Joanna said in surprise.
"Lady Joanna," Barristan said, bowing slightly. At this Joanna roused herself from her surprise and curtsied. "I wanted to see that you are alright this morning."
"Oh," Joanna said, looking back at Fiora, who had stopped just behind her. "Yes, I was actually about to take my leave to Princess Rhaella's quarters."
Ser Barristan set his jaw and nodded. "I understand why." There was an awkward silence between the three of them. Ser Barristan spoke to Fiora. "I will escort Lady Joanna myself this morning."
Joanna looked back at Fiora, whose suspicions were clear on her face.
"I'm quite safe with Ser Barristan," Joanna assured her. "I will find an escort back this afternoon."
Fiora nodded, and the matter was settled. Barristan and Joanna walked together a few yards.
"I wanted to thank you," Joanna said, stopping in her tracks. "For what you did."
"It was nothing, Lady Joanna," Barristan said plainly. "Any decent man would have done it."
"It takes more than a decent man to stand up to a prince, Ser Barristan," Joanna said with a wry smile. "I don't think I could count on two hands the number of men in King's Landing who would have done that."
"The ones who matter would," Barristan replied, and resumed his pace.
"'The ones who matter'," Joanna repeated. "I have been asking myself all night and this morning if Tywin would have done the same."
Barristan was silent, his face pensive.
"I am sorry, Ser Barristan, I should not have said that. I know that Tywin is a comrade in arms, and a friend of yours. I feel that I can trust you is all."
"You can," he said earnestly. "I will never betray your confidence."
This warmed Joanna's heart.
"But he would have, Lady Joanna. Tywin would have done the same."
"He acted like a bloody cur last night," she said, remembering Tywin's words. How did he get you down there, Joanna?
"I saw him after he left your room, Lady Joanna," Barristan said, looking sidelong at Joanna as they walked. "I've never seen him so shaken in the years that I have known him."
Joanna's eyebrows furrowed. Why had he acted so abysmally then?
"In truth, I don't really know Tywin all that well," Joanna said. She felt a pull at her heart at the thought. "I'm to marry him, and at every turn I feel that he does not approve of the match… Doesn't approve of me."
Barristan took a breath, and thought on her words. "I think it will take time. Few nobles are given the chance to get to know their intended before their wedding. Yet an arranged marriage can be a happy one."
"Are you betrothed, Ser Barristan?" Joanna asked, unable to hide her curiosity.
Barristan smiled sadly. "Yes, Lady Joanna."
"You don't sound convinced of your own words," Joanna coaxed.
Barristan's breath caught in his chest as he smiled. "I do believe them, Lady Joanna." He left it at that.
When they had reached Princess Rhaella's wing of the Red Keep, Ser Barristan stopped. Before he knocked on the door to the suite of rooms, he paused.
"In a week's time, Tywin will be gone with the rest of us to fight. I know it's not enough time to see what I see. But I know that he will fight like seven hells to get back to you."
Joanna swallowed, and placed a hand on her stomach. She breathed in, and found that it came surprisingly ragged. Lost for words, Joanna nodded.
"Thank you," she said quietly. Barristan took Joanna's hand in his, and kissed the back of it reassuringly. When he let go, he knocked on the door for her. When the door had been answered, and Barristan was sure that Joanna was safely inside the princess's suite, he walked away.
Rhaella stood before Joanna, taking stock of her injury. Joanna's heart pounded as Rhaella did so. Rhaella's expression betrayed nothing of what she felt. Ever mindful of her duty as a princess, Rhaella was not one to quickly jump to conclusions.
"I think I can guess what happened, if the rumors are true," Rhaella said, breaking her silence.
"Your Grace, I am afraid for once the rumors of King's Landing are false," Joanna said, her stomach dropping. So word traveled fast in King's Landing. That did not surprise her.
"So my husband did not attack you?" Rhaella said, throwing all her cards out at once. Joanna was surprised at how candid Rhaella was.
"No," Joanna said, shaking her head. "I mean, yes, he did, but… Ser Barristan… intervened."
Rhaella's face fell, and she sighed. "I am relieved to hear that, Lady Joanna."
Rhaella turned away from Joanna and sat on a stool by her dining table. She said nothing.
"Your Grace," Joanna started, approaching the table. "I hope this has not displeased you. By which I mean, I hope that you'll let me stay in King's Landing as your lady-in-waiting." Joanna stopped, feeling like she was close to making a fool of herself. Why had she just said that? She did not want to stay in King's Landing. Being sent away would look horrible, but the idea of upsetting Rhaella deeply affected her.
"Lady Joanna, please sit," Rhaella said, pinching the bridge of her nose. Joanna did as she was told.
"I don't wish to send you away," Rhaella said. "You don't deserve such treatment from my husband. But, he is the prince, and one day he will be king. Do you understand what kind of position that puts me in? All of us?"
Joanna nodded.
"So, I can only do so much to protect my ladies-in-waiting, my servants…" Rhaella appeared lost in her thoughts a moment. In that silence, Joanna had enough time to wonder just how many women Aerys had preyed upon.
"I can't change him," Rhaella continued. "So while you are here, you must take care."
"Yes, Your Grace," Joanna said, letting out the breath she had unconsciously been holding.
"But, with only one week until all the forces encamped around King's Landing will leave, you will not need to be quite so on guard for quite some time."
Joanna nodded.
"Until they and my husband ride off to battle, I will have a member of my King's Guard see you back to your chambers every time you leave my own."
Joanna took a steadying breath, attempting to stifle the tears of relief that threatened to fall. She looked upwards to keep her composure. Rhaella reached over to Joanna, and grabbed both her hands. Surprised, Joanna looked back at the princess.
"I am sorry you must share in my own personal misfortunes," she said, her lilac eyes showing how weary she really was.
"I hope…" Joanna started, and cleared her throat to start again. "I hope I do not overstep my bounds, princess, but… unlike most of King's Landing, I do keep my word when I say I will not betray your confidence. I am here for you, princess. What we share within these walls, I will not repeat to anyone."
Rhaella gave a half smile. She tightened her hold on Joanna's hands.
"I thought you might do me some good," she concluded.
Rhaella had poured her heart out that afternoon. She had exposed herself completely to Joanna, who listened intently and without judgment. Joanna offered advice where necessary, words of consolation, and when necessary, simply embraced Rhaella.
When they reached a lull in conversation, a knock came at the door.
"Wait a moment," Rhaella commanded, wiping at her tears to clear away evidence of her emotions. Joanna stood, and turned to Rhaella.
"I'll see to this," she said, putting her hand on Rhaella's arm. "I can at least give you a moment while I stall them." Rhaella nodded in agreement, and left her sitting room for her bedchamber to pull herself together.
Joanna went to the door, and opened it. Tywin stood outside the door, and Joanna's mouth gaped slightly.
"Ser Tywin," Joanna said, curtsying. He bowed in response. They shared a weighted silence and merely looked at one another. How could a single moment carry so many meanings?
Joanna flushed when she recalled what Ser Barristan had told her about him being upset last night. How did he put it? Shaken? And of course she then recalled Tywin's insinuation that being attacked was somehow her fault, and she pressed her lips together in a thin line.
"The princess is in disposed at the moment; you'll have to wait if you wish to speak to her," she said dutifully.
"I came for you," Tywin said quietly.
"Oh," Joanna said after a moment. "The princess has volunteered her King's Guard to escort me back, until…"
"Very well," Tywin said, turning to walk away to hide his disappointment.
"No," Joanna said, and instinctively reached for Tywin's arm to hold him back. Tywin looked at Joanna's hands on his arm, and then looked at Joanna. "I'll just tell the princess. Wait for me."
Joanna let Tywin's arm go, and retreated back into Rhaella's suite to bid her farewell. Tywin could still feel Joanna's hand on his arm, and he unconsciously touched the spot with his hand. He stood outside the door uncomfortably a moment, and was both relieved and terrified when Joanna returned.
Joanna took her place beside Tywin, and they began to walk at a slow pace.
They were walking in silence, a challenge to who would speak first, and what they would say. Joanna thought on all that Barristan had said that morning, and acted on impulse.
"Will you take supper with me tonight, Ser Tywin?" Joanna blurted. Tywin's pace slowed to a halt, and Joanna thought in that moment she had made a terrible error.
He looked at her a moment in contemplation. Joanna felt her face grow hot. Without a word, he gave a single nod, and resumed his pace.
Resigned to walking in silence, Joanna turned her thoughts inwardly, and expected no more from Tywin. It frustrated her to no end that this man she was going to marry was so guarded and reserved. Now that she thought on it, she thought that Tywin had not really ever spoken to her, only at her. At this thought, Joanna grew tired and sad.
They reached the Lannister quarters, and when they reached Joanna's door, she opened the door and waited for him to speak. To say anything.
Out of frustration, Joanna broke their silence. "I will expect you at sundown, Tywin."
Waiting for his response, Joanna bristled when Tywin simply nodded, and walked to his own bedchamber. Once in her room, Joanna closed her door a little more forcefully than she intended, and let out an exasperated grumble.
"Gods damn that man!"
