It was bloody hot today. Summer had decided to make its presence felt and as such Joanna had ordered the servants to constantly rotate fan waving duties as well as for the windows to all be open. Still she was sweating as were the children, they were drinking lots of cold water and other cold drinks. Joanna shrugged slightly and felt a bead of sweat drop down her skin. She stood up and walked out of her room, passed servants who looked how she felt, she nodded to them and continued on her way. There was no need to stop, she knew what needed to be done and she was determined to see it done.
Her boys were going to King's Landing in a week's time and whilst they were both very excited, Joanna knew they were nervous, Jaime because it would be the first time that he'd be away from his mother, and Eddard because he did not know how to dance. To reassure both boys she had decided that she would teach them how to dance the dances they'd be expected to dance at court. As Cersei was feeling quite jealous about not being able to go, Joanna had agreed to let her attend the lesson as well. Joanna smiled as she came to the ballroom where she saw Eddard stumbling slightly over his feet as he tried to guide Cersei through a dance.
She coughed lightly and the children straightened. Joanna felt her lips quirk upwards. "Children, I am glad to see that you are already practising." She moved into the room properly, and came to stand in the centre of the room, in front of the children. Joanna took a breath. "Now there are three main dances that are danced in King's Landing. They are the Dragon's Jig, the Stag's Waltz and the Lion's Shuffle. They are all fairly easy dances to learn and to do, but you must learn the correct forms before you go off to King's Landing. Do you understand?"
The children nodded, and Jaime asked. "Why is it that the jig is called the Dragon's Jig, Mama?"
Joanna smiled. "Because Queen Alysanne the Good was the one who invented it to commemorate her wedding to her brother King Jaehaerys."
Jaime nodded. Joanna spoke once more. "Now, which dance would you like to learn first?"
Unanimously the children said. "The Dragon's Jig!"
Joanna hid a laugh behind her hand, it was a good choice and would be an easy one to start with. "Very well. Eddard, would you come forward please." Eddard looked quite surprised at being chosen but walked forward to stand before her. "Good, now we bow." She bowed as did Eddard. "Now turn to your side." Eddard turned and she turned. "Extend your right hand." The boy did so, and Joanna placed her left hand in his. "Now we move three steps forward, hop and then walk back two steps." They moved, Eddard was good at this, they hopped, and then walked back. "Now we turn to face one another." Joanna could see nervousness in her foster son's eyes and she smiled softly to reassure him. "Now raise your hand and twirl me." Her foster son did so, and though she was slightly taller than him it wasn't too bad. He smiled in relief when she came back to her original position unharmed. "Now that is the Dragon's jig. The music will be quite fast when you perform this dance so you need to be in time. Damon!" She called, and her cousin came out with the band. "Start the music." Her cousin obliged starting a upbeat jig. Joanna turned to Eddard and said. "Now take a breath, and let us begin." They moved calmly, though she could tell there were times when Eddard was slightly nervous, he managed well enough, and where he stumbled, Joanna was there to guide him properly. They danced three times before Joanna signalled for the music to stop. "Very good Eddard, you're a natural." Her foster son blushed at that. "Now, do you want to try Jaime?"
Her son nodded enthusiastically. "Yes please, Mama!"
Joanna grinned at her son, took his hands in hers and began the dance to the sound of music. Jaime was slightly clumsy, once or twice he stood on her toes, but the longer they practised the better he got, and he was never disheartened by the fact that he didn't get it right the first time. He smiled and laughed, and Joanna smiled and laughed alongside him, glad to see her boy having so much fun. Eventually she stopped dancing with Jaime, and took a turn with Cersei, as expected her daughter was perfect at the dance. After three goes with Cersei, Joanna called a halt to the dance. All of them were sweating slightly, despite the open windows.
"Now, the next dance is the Stag's Waltz. This dance is a quick one as well, but not as quick as the Dragon's Jig. Jaime, could you come here?" Joanna stated. Her son came and stood next to her, looking up at her eagerly. "Now, we bow before one another." they bowed and then straightened. "Take both our hands and place them in each other's." they did so. "Now when the music starts we move to the left two steps, and stamp our feet, and then back to our starting position, then we move out from one another and then move back in and repeat." They followed what she said once, and Jaime giggled when he accidentally stood on her toe. She smiled and then said. "Again." They did it a second time and this time it was better. "Now, with the music." The beat came in quickly, a groove that had always made Joanna's heart quicken. Jaime kept pace with her, his enthusiasm contagious. They moved and swayed through the hall once, twice, thrice, a fourth time and then Joanna called a halt. "Very good, Jaime. Eddard, do you wish to have a go?"
There was a slight delay before Eddard nodded his head. He stepped forward and locked hands with her. Slowly they followed the routine without music, Eddard stepped on her toes a few times, and she could feel the sweat on his palms. "Just relax Eddard, take a deep breath and relax." She said, after a minute or so, she felt the tension in him ease and they finally got the hang of the dance without music. She took a quick glance at Eddard, saw that he was smiling and then searched the room for Damon, when she found him she nodded and the music started. A quick tempo, filled with energy and memories of her youth. They moved in and out and side to side, gliding and glancing around one another, once he had relaxed Eddard was a good dancer, the few times he seemed to think too much he stepped on her toes, but she brushed the slight pain off with a smile. They danced a few times, and then Joanna signalled for the music to stop. Eddard smiled shyly, and moved off to the side to stand next to Jaime, Cersei came forward and Joanna danced with her daughter, once again her daughter was a natural, smooth flowing and graceful. Joanna felt proud dancing with her daughter and briefly wished that she could keep her children at this age forever, and to not send two of her boys off to King's Landing.
The music stopped and Joanna gave up her idle thoughts. Cersei stayed with her though, because this dance required two girls and two boys. She gestured for the boys to come forward, which they did slightly reluctantly. "Now, this dance is called the Lion's Shuffle. It was invented by Lord Tygett Lannister to ease the homesickness of his wife Vaella Targaryen. It involves two boys and two girls linking arms and moving one step forward and then one step back, before spinning around the hall, and then repeating the initial moves. The music here is slightly fast, and slightly slow. Do you think you can manage?"
"Yes!" All three children said in unison. Joanna laughed.
"Very well then." They linked hands, and tried the movements without music, there was a slight mess up toward the bit where they would spin around, Eddard mistimed his spin and ended up falling, followed shortly by Cersei. Cersei giggled and so did Eddard, they got back up and tried again, this time Jaime fell and Joanna felt herself fall as well. Jaime giggled and Joanna smiled. Eventually, they picked themselves up off the floor and linked hands again, they moved forward, backward, forward again, and then they turned. This time none of them fell, and Cersei cheered, and Jaime giggled, Eddard smiled, Joanna felt her heart grow full. They tried it again and got it right, a third time, Eddard missed his step, and fell over before getting up and carrying on. The music came in, first the mandolin, then the strings and Joanna was taken back to her childhood growing up in King's Landing and the Rock. Dancing with Tywin and Aerys and Steffon, enjoying the feeling of being loved and loving in return. The boys she had known had grown up into men, one who ruled the realm, the other who reigned and the third, well Steffon had never been the same since Summerhall, and Cassana did not say what had changed. Joanna looked at her children and she hoped they would never have to feel the pain that she and Tywin had had to feel, that they could be spared the pain of war, of broken loves and torn hearts. Whilst she might not like that Jaime and Eddard were going to King's Landing, that they were to be squiring for Tywin was some relief, it meant that they would not be left to the dogs that stalked the halls of the Red Keep. That was a relief in of itself. No matter how small. She shook her head slightly, tuning back into the music. She could not let her fears catch up with her now and ruin what should be a perfect last week for her children here in their home. Joanna hoped Eddard saw the Rock as his home, she did not want it to replace Winterfell, she did not think it could, but she also wanted him to feel like he belonged here, she knew what it was like to feel adrift in the biggest castles in the land. She had had Tywin and Rhaella to ease her way through the pain in those early days, she hoped Eddard knew he had friends and family, people who loved him and cared for him here. She looked at her children and smiled at the joy on their faces.
They spun around one more time, and then the music died. Joanna stepped back and said. "Now, you three shall show me what you have learned. We shall start with the Dragon's Jig. Eddard, Cersei go first."
Eddard and Cersei bowed before one another and took the other's hand. They might quite a nice couple, if Joanna said so herself. Eddard was taller than Cersei and she looked quite snug nestled next to him. They danced, and neither stepped a foot wrong in time to the music, though as the music slowed down, Eddard almost tripped up in his haste to finish, causing him to blush furiously and for Cersei to giggle. Eddard giggled along with her and Joanna breathed a sigh of relief. The music stopped, Eddard and Cersei bowed to one another and then Jaime came and danced with Cersei. As she watched her twins dance, Joanna could see the connection that was there between them, but she hoped and prayed that it was simply sibling connection and nothing more, they could not allow it to be anything more.
The music slowed down and eventually stopped, before entering the music for the Stag's Waltz. Jaime and Cersei danced first for this one, and looked a pure sight, all arms and legs and frantic movement, it was quite amusing, for they were both quite competitive and it was obvious they were trying to outdo one another. So much so that at one point they tripped over each other's feet and sprawled to the floor. They were silent, the music kept playing, then they got up and giggled a little then continued. The music slowed down to a gentle beat, and as Joanna looked at the twins, she was reminded of how Damon had danced with her at her wedding to Tywin and she breathed a sigh of relief.
The dances continued for the next hour or so, as the day got cooler, the wind started to pick up, and it stopped being so damnably hot. Joanna watched with pride and amusement as her children-for they were all her children, including Eddard- danced and twirled and joked. The music was soothing, it helped her forget the troubles that were plaguing her and allowed her to enjoy the cheer and joy her children were getting from learning how to dance. Eventually, a servant came and informed her of the time, and she clapped her hands. The music stopped. Her children protested, but she silenced them with a look. "It is time for your lessons. Jaime, Cersei, you are to go to Maester Creylen, Eddard to Tygett."
"But Mama, we're having so much fun dancing, do we have to go to lessons?" Jaime asked, his eyes going round.
Joanna pretended to be frustrated. "Jaime, you know what we discussed and how important it is that you attend your lessons. You don't want to let your Papa down do you?"
Jaime's eyes expanded. "No, Mama, of course not Mama. Would we be able to come and dance later tonight though?"
"I don't see why not." Joanna replied.
"Yay!" Jaime squealed, he rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her tightly. Joanna laughed.
"Well go on, go to your lessons all of you." Joanna replied.
Jaime pulled back and nodded enthusiastically. "Yes Mama!" Joanna watched as her children hurried off to their lessons, a heavy sensation in her chest, they really were growing up too quickly.
Joanna stood for a moment, remembering. Memories of dancing with her father and mother before they had both died, of singing songs and laughing at bad jokes. Of the grim atmosphere when the Reynes and Tarbecks had dared raise their heads and their tails at the Lion of the Rock. So many memories were coming back to haunt her now, and she did not know why. Well, actually that was a lie, she understood perfectly well why. A hand ran through her hair then she moved away from the ballroom, she turned around corners and narrow hallways, the wind had picked up speed now, she could hear it howling outside, she shivered slightly, and breathed a sigh of relief when she entered the study, her study. Kevan was there waiting for her, as was the wetnurse with Tyrion, the youngest of her children who was small and stunted, but still beautiful. She took the babe from the wetnurse and balanced him in her arms as she sat down and then she placed him on her knee. "Mama!" Tyrion babbled, smiling and chattering away about something or the other, eventually he fell silent and Joanna looked at Kevan.
"There have been more sightings." Her goodbrother said without preamble.
"In the same areas?" She asked.
"Yes, and always at the same time around the lowest peak of the sun and the beginning of the moon's entrance into the sky. And there are varying numbers, sometimes five, sometimes ten, sometimes more. They display no colours, and none of the men have been able to hear what they say clearly, but it is clear something is being planned." Kevan replied.
Joanna sighed. "What do you think it is that they are doing?" The rumours had first come to them from one of Gerion's associates. A torn and tattered old man who had forgotten more about the Westerlands than anyone else alive knew or remembered.
"I think they are planning something serious, something that might well be in connection to whatever it is Tywin is planning with Lord Stark." Kevan replied. Joanna knew Kevan did not quite appreciate being left in the dark about that, but it was necessary, the fewer people who knew right now, the less chance there was of it getting out and causing trouble later.
"I am not so sure. I think they might well just be trying to cause a stir, to cause fright. Everyone remembers what happened the last time someone went there." Joanna said. The old murmurs who had ventured near the well where Tion Tarbeck had stood his ground and fought. It was old and haunted, but nobody went there and survived.
"True, but these people are not like the others, they are there almost constantly, and they do not seem scared of the reputation the place has." Kevan said, and Joanna was surprised, was that a hint of fear she heard in his voice?
Joanna considered this. "Well, until they actually do something that is worthy of drawing a proper reaction, all we can do is wait and watch. No matter how much I do not like it." she did not want these people whoever they were staying where they were for too long, such a thing would attract attention, and attention never ended well.
"Do you still wish for Jaime and Eddard to leave for King's Landing in a week? If these people are still there in a week they will be a beacon for trouble makers." Kevan stated.
Joanna considered it for a moment then shook her head. "They must go to King's Landing, if they do not, then people will talk, and if people talk they will soon learn about these others. We cannot allow that. Double or triple the guard though. That would not raise as many eyebrows, for the heir to the Rock to travel to the capital requires as many."
Kevan nodded, stood up and bowed, he straightened and left. Once he was gone, Joanna felt Tyrion tug on a lock of her hair, she looked down at him and listened surprised when he said. "Bad men come, Mama, bad men come." She remembered the last time she had heard that exact phrase, and shuddered.