Joanna's hair shines golden under the sun, bright like the light that filters through the clouds. She looks like the Maiden and the Mother in the same image, her cheeks pink and her belly swollen with the new babe. Cersei sleeps beside her in the grass and Jaime is running around somewhere with his wooden sword, though he's begged Tywin hundreds of times for a real sword, sharp steel to slay dragons and protect princesses from evil and wicked witches.

Joanna wonders, though, in the midst of the beautiful morning, she wonders whether this will last —this frail moment of peace that surrounds her family, where Tywin is home and the children play innocently. They're so rare and the few they have are like a breath of fresh air; and sometimes she feels she's choking, as if the Gods have their hands around her throat and they're trying to kill her. She's so scared, sometimes, scared that Tywin will not return to her ever again, that he'll remain at Aerys' side forever and will forget about her completely; scared that Cersei and Jaime will become wicked and foul, that they will sin and the Gods will punish them and their House greatly; scared that something will go wrong with her pregnancy and the babe will suffer and that would break her on so many levels she cannot even begin to imagine what it would feel like.

Cersei snores gently beside her and her beautiful girl has drool on her chin, yet she's still lovely. She smiles when she sees Tywin walking over to them, Jaime at his side, looking up to his father and smiling so bright the sun pales in comparison.

She's still scared, but it's warm under the sun and their skins taste of salt and spring and as long as she fights, they'll stay together. And she'll never tire of fighting for her family.