Once the Shepherds were tasked with escorting Emmeryn someplace safe, Joanne quickly realized why she was the Exalt.

The world seemed to stop whenever Emmeryn walked into a room, and her smile was as bright as a bonfire, but with the warmth of a hearth. Her words were like a rope, pulling everyone's attention towards her whenever she spoke. Her voice, a soft breeze, seemed to calm everyone she talked to. She had such a strong charismatic pull, one could barely take their eyes off of her. Chrom and Lissa weren't exaggerating when they talked about Emmeryn.

The Exalt checked on everyone in the army, always making sure that the Shepherds were treated for injuries, that they ate or drank recently, that they knew that she was grateful for all that they did. Morale rose with Emmeryn's presence, and nearly everyone greeted her warmly-even the new arrival Panne, the taguel, who had a (honestly rather understandable) distaste of humans, only helped Emmeryn due to her kindness and compassion.

But one night, Joanne caught Emmeryn by herself at camp, late into the night, and the Exalt was staring up at the night sky when Joanne saw it. She saw the aching pain in Emmeryn's eyes, the years of stress and anxiety, the thousands of insults and slurs flung her way like mud as she took over after her father, the exhaustion from working so hard to build up a country from ruin only to have it so close to it being taken away again.

And, Joanne noted as Emmeryn saw her and swiftly smiled again, the pressure and expectation of being fine at all times.

Emmeryn put on a brave face to protect her people; now, Joanne would do everything in her power to protect Emmeryn.