I

Winterfell

The North had a beauty wholly unlike the South. King's Landing was colorful and bright, and the air smelled of flowers and salt of the sea. Here, the air just smelled...cold. It was sharp on the nose, and the sky was bleak above, and the ground frozen and unforgiving underfoot. Still, to Joanna, who had never been outside of King's Landing, it was a fascinating place. She sat at the edge of her seat, arms crossed upon the window sill.

"Aren't you bored?" Myrcella asked, moving from her seat across the wheelhouse next to their mother.

"No," she replied, turning and raising an arm so her sister could huddle beneath her heavy cloak and share in her warmth. "Doesn't sitting and reading in here make you sick?"

"No," Myrcella responded with a giggle. "Isn't it exciting? Going to Winterfell."

"Indeed," Joanna replied. "I only hope it's worth the trip up here."

"Oh, it will be," Myrcella responded. She punctuated her statement with a firm, sure nod. "I've read so many stories. I heard it's a beautiful crystal palace -"

"Sure," she snorted. "And the Red Keep is a glistening ruby castle."

"Joanna," Cersei called, sending her daughter a stern look from her seat opposite the girls. Joanna remembered herself, pulling her sister closer to her side.

"You're right," she said, smiling down at the young girl. "I'm sure Winterfell will be beautiful."

"Will we be there soon?" Tommen asked, looking up at his mother from his seat on the opposite side of the wheelhouse.

"Have patience, my love," their mother replied, taking his little hand in hers. She had never been a woman who was especially open with her love, but the trip to the North had made her even less approachable than usual. The closer they got to Winterfell, it seemed, the sourer her mood became.

Myrcella had begun to spout off facts about Winterfell and the Starks, lists she surely had memorized from a history book she'd read, as she did so love to learn. Suddenly, the wheelhouse was beginning to feel more and more like one of Septa Eglantine's lessons, and Joanna swiftly got the urge to escape. She withdrew from her sister, turning her attentions back to the view outside of the window and doing her best to tune out the sound of her sister's voice.

The wheelhouse was spacious, furnished with the best that money could buy, but with so many people crammed inside, it oftentimes felt more like a prison. This was one of those times. Alongside Joanna in the wheelhouse were two of her younger siblings and her mother, as well as their companions and handmaidens. Joanna didn't have a view up ahead of the wheelhouse, but she knew that proceeding them her were father and brother, both on horseback.

She wished terribly that she could have ridden alongside them, able to breathe fresh air and feel the cold whip of the Northern wind on her cheeks. Though admittedly, she didn't envy them the sore arse they surely felt at the end of the long day's ride. But that was a man's burden, Joanna thought; the man had to suffer from saddle arse, and the women had to suffer from everything else.

A shout from outside drew her from her thoughts. She craned her neck, trying to get a better glimpse of what was going on. When they rounded the bend of the road, she could see the castle in the distance. A gasp broke her lips before she could stop herself, and the sound caused Myrcella to stop speaking abruptly.

"What is it?" she asked, trying to push past Joanna to see outside the window. Joanna stood, trying to keep her balance in the wobbly wheelhouse, and allowed Myrcella to trade her places on the seat so she could see Winterfell upon the horizon.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" Myrcella cried with glee, grinning. "Just like I knew it would be."

In truth, Joanna didn't think Winterfell looked much different from any other castle they'd seen on their journey to the North, but Myrcella, for all she was intelligent, did have a tendency to be dreamy. Joanna settled down in the seat again, sitting next to Desmera Redwyne. Her companion since she was a child, Desmera immediately scooted closer to Joanna so they were sitting hip-to-hip.

She didn't say anything, only took one of Joanna's hands and tried to look past Joanna and Myrcella to peek out the window at Winterfell. The other maids in the wheelhouse were chattering quietly to each other. Cersei allowed them their fun for a moment, before calling them into work.

"Girls," she said. "Let us freshen up for the arrival."

The handmaidens bustled around the unsteady wheelhouse, pinning up loose hairs and pinching cheeks to redden them. They were still wearing their travel clothes, but it didn't matter; everything they wore was still made of fine materials, embroidered and decorated richly. The girls worked on their hair and dress until they passed through the gates of the town, when they pressed themselves against the windows and chattered excitedly. Myrcella had still hardly left her spot, hadn't even moved when a handmaiden had moved beside her to brush out her pretty gold hair.

"Oh, Joanna, can you see?" she asked, peering through the window with delight. "It's wonderful."

"I'm sure it is," Joanna smiled, looking past her sister out the window. She could see rows of people lining up along the road that led to the keep. Finally, the wheelhouse came to a stop. Cersei called Myrcella over to her again, so the young girl was sitting on her mother's other side. Joanna scooted closer to the window, occupying the seat her sister had just vacated. Outside, she could see the Northerners kneeling, waiting for her father to remove his massive weight from his stallion.

"When are we going to get out?" Tommen asked, drawing Joanna's attention away from the proceedings outside.

"Hush," Cersei beckoned, putting an arm around his shoulders. It was only a moment later that they were called outside by a gentle knock on the wheelhouse door before it was opened. The handmaidens disembarked first, lining up on one side of the door, before Joanna led her siblings out to the other side. Their mother was the last to exit the wheelhouse, stepping out into the cold Northern air. She surveyed Winterfell and the Northmen with a disinterested look.

She waited until the King had moved down the line of Starks to approach them, offering her hand with an expectant look. Lord Stark did not disappoint, he bowed, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it.

"My Queen," he greeted.

If anything, Joanna could say that the Starks knew how to keep the King and Queen happy. Cersei turned back to them, frowning, when Lord Stark accompanied the King to the crypts.

"Lady Stark, if I may present my children," she said, turning back to the Stark household with a fine-tuned mask of pleasantry. She gestured to Joffrey, who had just dismounted his horse, standing cockily with his hands placed over the sword on his side. "Prince Joffrey, Princess Joanna, Princess Myrcella, and Prince Tommen."

Lady Stark gave a quick curtsy, before motioning to the keep.

"Let us go in out of the cold," she beckoned, and Cersei's lips tightened into a smile. She beckoned for the handmaidens to follow them as Lady Stark led them inside the castle, then turned and let her pleasant mask slip away.

Joanna leaned against the doorway, watching Septa Eglantine carefully brush through Myrcella's pretty hair. At eleven, Myrcella was five years her junior, yet already blossoming into an attractive girl – the picture of their mother, and just as beautiful. The two sisters hardly looked a thing alike; the only thing they shared between them was their mother's slender figure and stature. Even still, Myrcella was showing to be willowier, rather than Joanna who was slender but strongly built. But where Myrcella was light, Joanna was dark. Myrcella's hair was golden like their mother's, eyes bright and shining green. Joanna, on the other hand, had the dark hair of their father, and his stormy blue eyes to match. Even all of Myrcella's soft features were contrasted in Joanna, whose face was square instead of oval. Where Myrcella reflected their mother, Joanna reflected their father.

"Do you suppose there will be dancing?" Myrcella asked, glancing at Joanna through the mirror.

"I don't know," Joanna shrugged. "Do Northerners dance?"

"Of course," she replied with a small giggle. "Everyone dances."

"I don't know about everyone," Joanna said, trailing over to sit on the chest that held Myrcella's wardrobe. "I've never seen Uncle Jaime dance, have you?"

Myrcella giggled again at the thought of her uncle, in full armor, dancing a jig. She placed a dainty hand over her mouth to cover her pretty smile.

"Besides, could you imagine seeing anyone try to stumble around the dancefloor after three or four glasses of wine? Though I suppose you wouldn't need to imagine Father in such a state, he already –"

"Joanna," Eglantine snapped, sending her a stern look. Joanna shut her mouth immediately. She gave Myrcella a thin smile.

"If you want dancing," she said, "Then there shall be dancing. I'm sure all the Northern boys have been dreaming of dancing with you."

"You really think so?" Myrcella asked, examining her reflection in the mirror. Eglantine finished with her hair and stepped away.

"Of course!" Joanna replied, standing and moving to occupy the stop behind Myrcella's chair that Septa Eglantine had just vacated. She placed her hands on her sister's thin shoulders. "Look how lovely you are. Come, let's show Mother."

Joanna took Myrcella's hand when she stood, guiding her out of the chambers she'd been given. They trailed through the corridors of Winterfell, Septa Eglantine at their heels, until they reached their mother's chambers. When they were invited in, Cersei was still having her hair piled atop her head in the southern fashion, the same way Joanna's hair had been pulled up. Cersei caught sight of them in the mirror. She lifted her hand for her handmaiden to step away from her, and turned in her chair to face her daughters.

For a long moment, Joanna felt naked under her mother's scrutiny, worried that the slightest detail would be askew. She was worried that there would be something about her that would cause Cersei to disapprove. Finally, though, she smiled.

"Such beauties you are," she said, though her smile was thin and tight. "Your presence at the feast will be a gift to the North."

She turned back, allowing her handmaiden to continue fixing up her hair. Joanna shifted on her feet. After a moment, she sat down on her feet beside the low chair in which Cersei sat. Cersei reached over to tug gently at the braids of hair that hung over Joanna's shoulders.

"Mother," she asked. "Is it true that Joffrey is going to marry Lord Stark's daughter?"

"So it seems," Cersei replied, not allowing her face or tone of voice betray her true feelings about the arrangement.

"Does that mean that the Starks are going to come down to King's Landing with us when we return?"

Cersei hummed briefly in thought. "That depends if Lord Stark accepts your father's offer. So you'll be friendly with them tonight."

"Of course." Joanna frowned, dismayed that her mother thought she had to be told to be welcoming to the Starks. In Joanna's opinion, she was never anything but friendly.

Once Cersei was ready, both girls followed her through the corridors down to the great hall of Winterfell. They were seated down at one of the lower tables, allowing for Lord and Lady Stark, as well as the King and Queen to occupy the head table. From her vantage point at the head of the room, Cersei watched the crowd below as the revelry commenced. She wasn't one for feasts and parties as it was, but having to be in Winterfell only made her mood sourer. Perhaps in King's Landing, she could bring herself to enjoy the music and food, though never actively participate. Here, however, she hardly had the stomach to finish her meal.

Robert had hardly finished the first course before moving down from the high table to mingle. It would be a charming gesture, perhaps, if he weren't drunk and openly misbehaving. But all who were visited by Robert were glad to receive him, enjoying his presence until he decided to move on. Cersei's attention was drawn to yet another member of her family mingling among the crowd; Joanna was one for conversation, an affable and sociable young woman. She always had been. Though frail as a young girl, she had always been energetic, vibrant and full of life.

Working her way down the table, Joanna looked down to see that she was nearing Sansa Stark's seat. Several times, Joanna caught sight of Sansa and her friend glancing over at Joffrey and giggling to each other. She wished she could tell them what a terror he was, how horrible he was to live with, to be related to. But there was no use. No one she told ever took her seriously. Sisters always hate brothers, they'd tell her. But not the way Joanna hated Joffrey. Still, she smiled as she approached the young Lady Stark, settling on the bench across from her. She leaned on her elbows, scooting forward so she was at the edge of her seat.

"I hear we're going to be good-sisters one day," she said without preamble. Sansa was clearly startled at the sudden introduction, but she was quick to smile politely. "Are you very excited?"

"Oh yes," Sansa nodded eagerly. She was very pretty, especially so when her face was lit up like this. "The Prince is very handsome, and I hear he's very kind."

Joanna couldn't help her smile from fading, though she was quick to cover it. She cleared her throat and forced the smile back on her face again.

"Well, I bet you'll love King's Landing. A young lady like you will simply thrive at court."

"You think so?" Sansa asked, sounding truly hopeful. Joanna nodded eagerly.

"Oh yes," she assured. "Everybody will love you. Tomorrow, I hope you'll show me around Winterfell?"

"Of course, my Lady," she replied, nodding dutifully. Joanna could practically see the excitement in her eyes.

"Wonderful," she smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze Sansa's hand before standing once more. She weaved through the crowds, taking in the energy of everyone around her. There were some who called out to her, trying to make conversation, who she didn't know. Regardless, Joanna was happy to converse with them, sharing a joke or two before moving on. As she was about to make her way back to her seat, she was startled by a hand on her shoulder. She turned to find her Uncle Jaime towering over her, pulling her close so she could hear him over the commotion of the crowded hall.

"You should come with me," he said, gently taking her upper arm. "Your mother wants to speak with you."

Joanna huffed out a breath, but turned and allowed him to lead her away. Jaime guided her through the lines of crowded tables with a hand on her back.

"Did she say what she wanted?" Joanna asked.

"No, but she wanted you quickly." Jaime kept his voice low as they walked. "And she didn't sound happy."

"When does she?" she murmured under her breath. She caught Jaime's faint chuckle, but he didn't give her a reply. He left her when they reached the high table upon the dais at the end of the hall, patting her shoulder and urging her over to her mother before walking away. Joanna approached the front of the table, dipping down in a light curtsy as was expected of her in public.

"Yes, Mother?" she asked.

"I want you off to bed," Cersei replied, staring off somewhere past Joanna's shoulder. "Take Myrcella with you. Quickly now."

"But Mother –" Joanna started, about to protest that it was still early in the night. Cersei silenced her with a hard look. Sighing, she nodded, taking one step before realizing that she was stood before Catelyn Stark as well.

"Lady Stark, the meal was delicious," she said, smiling. Lady Stark nodded, but Cersei cut in before there could be a reply.

"Joanna."

Knowing better than to open her mouth again, she nodded down at Lady Stark before stepping down from the dais again. She looked out over the crowded hall, trying to remember where it was that her mother was staring. Finally, she caught sight of her father across the hall, mouth trailing wet, drunken kisses upon the neck of a serving maid. She hurried over to her sister, helping her rise from the table and making sure that Myrcella didn't look behind her as they fled from the hall.

Intelligent and well-read as she was, Myrcella was still of an age where she thought that all men and women who got married were in love, their parents included. Neither Cersei nor Joanna wanted her to witness the King's drunken debauchery, least of all on such a happy night. Joanna hadn't been much older than Myrcella was when she'd witnessed her father leaving the great hall one evening with a maid attached to his arm, tipsy with drink and his hands grabbing at her ass. Though she loved her father, she had always looked at him differently since that night.

Joanna took her up to her chambers, Desmera at their heels. Myrcella was simply delighted at the night she'd had, chattering about the friend she hoped she'd made in Sansa, and how lovely she looked, and how excited she was to be in Winterfell. When they reached the chamber that Joanna had been given, Desmera undressed the girls, letting down their hair and brushing through it before leaving them to sleep.

The two girls climbed under the blankets and furs, settling down for bed. It had been a long time, Joanna felt, since the two had shared a bed. Myrcella was old enough now that she was fine if she had a nightmare, and she no longer needed to crawl into her sister's bed. It was nice to share a bed with her again. She felt like she was young again, a little girl sharing stories with her sister before they went to sleep. It felt like such a crime when they were abed together, their Septa under the assumption that they were asleep, but really they stayed awake hours past their bedtime to visit, giggling quietly and talking in soft voices with each other.

Tonight, however, Myrcella fell asleep almost immediately. She only had time to kiss her sister's cheek goodnight before she drifted off. Joanna, not nearly as tuckered out as her sister, had time to herself to process her first day in Winterfell. Aside from the feast and the arrival itself, it was uneventful, spent mostly refreshing herself from travel and getting situated in her new chambers for the time being. Knowing that she would not be allowed to sleep in the next morning, Joanna settled into bed, forcing herself to rest. That evening, she found herself drifting off slowly, consumed with thoughts of Winterfell.

A/N: All characters, by the way, are property of GRRM. Joanna is the only one who belongs to me. Desmera Redwyne and Septa Eglantine are GRRM's characters, but their personalities and physical traits are my creation.

Huge thanks to sousie, darkwolf76, FanaticShipper, Arianna Le Fay, Bruna Santos 30, Elfsquire90, musicluver246, HPuni101, and Bella-swan11 for the reviews! It really does mean the world to me when I see people react to my work, especially in such a constructive way as all of you have. Additional love and thanks to those of you out there who've faved and added this story to your follows!

Now, our first glimpse at Joanna! Last chapter she was just a bitty baby, and now she's almost an adult. I'd love to see what you all think of her so far! There will definitely be changes in store for her, as there will be for all of these characters, but for now I'd be very interested to hear about your impressions of her. Next chapter we'll see her interacting with the Starks a lot more, and we'll see more of Winterfell and possibly some more interaction between Joanna and her family, including some members of her family that we didn't see this chapter.

I've got a start on chapter 2, but I'm not positive when I'll have it out yet. This story is really more of a side project for my free time rather than a main project, so I'll probably be pretty sporadic on updates. I'll mostly be writing whenever the mood strikes me. Still, I've got a lot of ideas for this story that I'm rather excited to get to, so I don't expect that you'll be waiting months for updates.

I hope you enjoyed, and whether you did or didn't, I'd still love to hear! I'm a recreational writer, but still seeking to get better, and if anyone has any constructive criticism - or, really, any thoughts at all - I'd be very happy to read them!

Thank you all for reading!

Until next time,

Rex