If Lon'qu kept avoiding her like this, Joanne was going to run out of figs to throw.
After defeating Marth, Basilio had given them Lon'qu, the former champion, to fight for the Shepherds. And Lon'qu had made it abundantly clear that he did not like women. His pupils would dialate, his body would tense, and he'd bark at whatever female was in his vicinity to "get back!" Normally, such a thing wouldn't bother Joanne; she'd be happy to keep her distance and make sure that both of them were at a comfortable distance.
But Joanne was the tactician. She had to talk to him face-to-face.
Thus, a plethora of awkward and frustrating conversations ensued, with Joanne trying to get close to Lon'qu and Lon'qu wanting absolutely nothing to do with Joanne.
So Joanne decided to come up with a little plan to help Lon'qu with his phobia of women.
The entire way back to Ylisse, Joanne sparred with Lon'qu, and the moment he refused to draw his sword, she went for long-range attacks via figs. He didn't appreciate that too much. (Especially when Joanne attacked him in his sleep. He really didn't appreciate that.)
Joanne grabbed a few books on the way back, and one heavily detailed different fears, including the fear of women. It appeared that, most often, the fear of women was formed thanks to some traumatic event (or events) involving women in the past. And, if this book was to be trusted, one of the best ways to overcome a strong fear was distraction and exposure.
So she continued to throw figs at him. She tilted her head curiously and followed him around. She feigned innocence whenever he accused her of anything. She poked him in the ribs with her pen. She bombarded him with questions about Regna Ferox (granted, her questions about Olivia were genuine questions). Anything and everything she did to Lon'qu was meant to make him see her as an annoyance rather than a woman.
Though, she did have to wonder why he had such a severe fear of women. What happened to him to make him so afraid that he could barely stand within the same room as another female?
Well, that wasn't Joanne's business. Everyone had their secrets. It only became her business when said secrets could jeopardize the battle plans she had set up.
She had to admit, she made herself look rather silly while enacting her plan. After all, most people didn't follow around their myrmidons with figs and childlike looks. Once, she managed to make Lon'qu laugh (even if it was at her). It was soft and rough, but it was genuine amusement. It brought a smile to her lips.
Joanne would make herself seem as silly as a court jester if she could make Lon'qu laugh again.
