Ch-1: The Beginning
Joanna strained and moaned, struggling to give birth. Distantly, she could hear someone shouting her name. Tywin, she thought. She opened her eyes, and the spasms mercifully stopped. She heard lusty cries, and, turning, glimpsed two newborn babes. Joanna smiled. My children.
She heard footsteps and glanced up. Tywin was standing there, looking anxious. 'Two healthy children for you, My Lord.' she whispered. His gaze immediately fell on the children, a boy and a girl. His face cleared and a proud smile slowly settled on his features. 'A healthy heir to Casterly Rock, and a girl fit to be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.' he pronounced. Joanna grimaced. Her husband really was obsessed with the Lannister Legacy. 'They are babies, Tywin,' she admonished him. 'Leave them out of your fantasies for now.' She looked at them.
They were sleeping, arms entwined, tiny and wondrously beautiful. We came into this world together, they seemed to be saying. She held them tenderly in her arms. 'What shall we name them?' she asked. 'Jaime for the boy and Cersei for the girl.' he replied, without skipping a and Cersei opened their eyes and gurgled. 'Well, Tywin.' she quipped, 'They already seem to like their names.'
Tywin nodded, but his expression changed. 'What is it?' she asked, concerned. 'I need to go back to King's Landing.' Tywin replied. His mouth hardened at the prospect. She noticed the subtle changes, the hard glint of his green-gold eyes. 'What is the matter, Tywin? Is aught amiss?' she queried. He nodded, and left.
Joanna sighed. Her husband was a man of few words, but she had never seen him like this. However, she was exhausted, so she closed her eyes and fell into a fitful sleep.
