Author's note: I know what will happen in this story, but I haven't finished it so updates will not be frequent. If you don't mind that and wonder how Joanna Lannister will play the game of thrones, this is a story for you.

PROLOGUE

This is theft, the old woman thought in acknowledgment of pulling out some radishes from someone else's kitchen garden. She had begged for some food at the farmhouse but the farmer, a stout red haired man, had told her no. She thought he'd retreated into his stable, but he must have kept an eye on her for he called out: "Thief!"

She started to run. Old she may be, but there was nothing wrong with her legs. Her pursuer was fast though and the sound of his footsteps grew closer. She left the road and ran into some bushes, hoping to shake him off. The grounds rose but she kept running as best as she could, avoiding trees and roots alike. Ahead of her were thorny bushes, and just over the top of them a long line of moving banners. Her pursuer gave up and that was such a relief that she realized a bit too late that the banners should be higher up. She broke through the bushes, fell several feet while screaming out her surprise and fear and landed on a horseman. She and he then met the road. The horse, now bereft of its rider, stood very still.

People dismounted. The woman heard voices but she couldn't make out what was being said.

"I'm fine," the man beneath her spoke. "Get her off me."

And with that the woman was dragged up. The horseman she'd accidentally knocked to the ground got to his feet without help. His expansive cloak was freshly stained with mud and even some duckweed from the swamp next to the small road. He nursed his left wrist and he had the coldest gaze she'd ever seen.

"I'm sorry," she told him. To her annoyance her voice sounded like that of her much younger self: meek and frightened. "I didn't mean to hurt you ser."

She'd only arrived in the west a fortnight ago. It had not been long enough to memorize the shields the noblemen wore, as if she would need that anyway, living among the smallfolk as she did, but she frantically searched for the one shield she knew.

"I know some healing, as the steward of the house with a peacock can confirm. Might I look at your wrist?"

"Kill her!" Cold Gaze commanded.

"What?" she cried out but the hands that had held her arms moved to her neck already. Cold Gaze, confident that his man would carry out his order, got in the saddle again. Though his wrist must hurt, he didn't even flinch. The woman elbowed her assailant and managed a few steps toward Cold Gaze.

"Spare my life!"

"Why would I do that woman."

The woman was held by her arms once more. She tried to ignore it. "I know healing. I could work for you ser!"

"I can employ healers in plenty."

Being a foreigner and a traveller the woman had faced angry people before. Normally she'd protect herself from harm by saying that she knew of potions to ease pain or cure or woo or whatever the mob seemed to need. Right here and now, she tried in vain to get eye contact with those surrounding her. Cold Gaze nodded at her captor and a heartbeat later on two gloved hands circled her neck. The scent of her own urine filled her nostrils.

"Can your healers replace life and death?" she shrieked. She had once sworn never to perform the particular magic unless it could save her life. Back then she'd not believed in its power for her teacher didn't seem to take it seriously herself and during the decades since she'd never heard of it being performed.

"I can exchange someone who died for one who lives!"

Silly cow, she scolded herself. What will this get you? A few more moments to live, that's all. A mere moment seemed so sweet though and hope floated through her when she saw a flicker of interest in Cold Gaze's eyes. There was something else too. Pain. Longing. Cold Gaze made a tiny gesture and the man behind her took a step back. Now thinking she might actually live another day if she stopped being so frightened, the woman reached into a pocket she kept on her smallclothes. It contained a tiny egg that was heavier than it ought to be and hard to the touch. Carefully keeping it in the bowl of her hand she looked at the man who controlled her life.

"You want to do your 'magic' right now do you? My lady wife died in childbirth. The child lives. Change it."

"Their names my lord?" the woman asked, her voice trembling.

"The child is Tyrion. Its mother Joanna Lannister," Cold Gaze replied. "If you are the deceiver I take you for, I'll have you whipped and then trapped on by my horses until your lying tongue stops screaming."

Everyone in the party looked straight ahead as if they weren't present. The only sounds were from birds and dragon-flies: even the horses were silent. The woman's bowels ached.

"Yes my lord. I will need some herbs…" she said, gesturing at the swamp. Fully clothed she weighed no more than seven stone and she reasoned that she could escape through the swamp for the men wore armour and wouldn't make it far.

"Archers stand ready," Cold Gaze said just as casually as when he'd told her about her punishment should she play him. No further commands were needed: four men readied their bows. The woman felt lost. She walked up to her ankles into the swamp and picked grass and petals of some purple flower. Behind a willow she got some lizard's tail. Glancing at the men she learned that two archers were positioning themselves in such a way that the willow no longer acted as her shield. The water's reflection showed her fearful face.

"Valar morghulis," she whispered. Getting out of the swamp she placed the egg on the useless plants she'd gathered. She closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to see the disinterested faces of those who'd see her die. Bringing the egg to her mouth she whispered the incantation she'd long ago learned by heart. She clung to the 'magic' as if it were a life-saver. After adding the names of Lived Dies and Died Lives, she blew on the egg. It broke and she shivered as ice-cold yolk dripped through her fingers. When her tears had fallen off her cheeks she dared to take in her surroundings. Cold Gaze and his men had vanished.