She watched with great anticipation, as the guests seated themselves across of her own family. The old crone, what she liked to call the Lady Olenna whenever none of the adults would listen, was almost impossible to read. A calm expression, the smallest of smiles, though she wasn't sure where the old woman's lips began and crinkles began.
It sure had been an odd sight, when this woman arrived, together with her grandson, Willas, and no less than two dozen guards and servants. She had joked with Nymeria and Rhaenys, that the Tyrell guards were walking the handicapped family members, due to both Willas and Olenna relying heavily on their canes. Strangely though, neither of the other girls had laughed and only watched with apprehension.
Now she understood why. The Queen of Thorns and the heir of Highgarden were not just taking a stroll. Far from it. They had come for a reason. So now they all sat here, in the largest tent, where Rhaenys would receive every visitor. Though this time it was not just Rhaenys, Nymeria and her, who faced the old ruler of Highgarden. Her father, Ser Jaime, and Prince Oberyn were present as well. All this could only mean one thing.
She looked over to Rhaenys and was surprised. Rarely had she seen her sister this tense. Joanna was not an idiot, she knew what this meeting was about and what it could possibly mean for Rhaenys' future. But it was still odd to see her usually confident sister this nervous. Rhaenys was never nervous like this... at least Joanna could not remember ever seeing her like this.
"Well I believe that our intentions here are obvious, so we will skip the unnecessary pleasantries and get directly to the point." It was the Lady Olenna who spoke first and ended the tense silence that had befallen their group. "Your son has caused us much headache and trouble, Ser Jaime. A foolish boy, though I guess that Garlan was just as foolish when he got involved."
"My son did what he had to and acted in the way he conceived as the right one." Jaime defended his son's actions briskly. Joanna couldn't help herself but smile, as she saw that her father would still defend Arthur's actions, though he himself had been beyond furious when they had returned from the hunt. Her father had not yelled at Arthur. He had not punished him. At least not physically. No, the cold gaze and the few words he had exchanged with his son after their return were a whole different kind of punishment. She knew how Arthur felt. He had to endure what she herself also feared the most. Disappointing her parents so much, that they would not even look at her like they did before. Her brother and she loved their parents dearly and loosing them was about the worst that could ever happen to them. Arthur had to endure it now, at least to a smaller degree. He also had to suffer the very physical punishment from Prince Oberyn, who was livid because of Arthur messing up all their plans with this. But despite this, her father was still willing to defend Arthur, should any outsider dare to insult him.
"Oh, so starting wars by trying to kill that foolish king's son is considered right now," Olenna replied almost boredly.
"Defending his friends and the honor of his sisters was the right thing. He chose a poor way to do it, but at least his intentions were pure." Jaime replied.
Lady Olenna only smirked at him, obviously pleased with what she had heard, "Very well then. Then let us start talking about this alliance of yours." Now she settled her gaze on Rhaenys, "You, girl, have told me that you can give the Tyrells a better future. Now we will see if you can keep your promise."
"What my grandmother is trying to say, is that I have agreed to the proposed match. I will take Rhaenys as my wife and the future Lady of the Reach. We will rally our troops behind the Targaryen banner once more, like we have done in the past." Willas said gently, as he smiled at Rhaenys. The tension left the princess and now she was able to return the smile. Relieved that her true mission here had not failed. "I have already sent a notice to Lord Tarly to gather my father's troops and prepare for the war."
"Thank you, Willas. You have no idea how much this means to me. This isn't just for me, but for my entire family." Rhaenys said softly.
"This uncle of yours, Viserys, is he worthy of the throne?" Olenna asked briskly.
Joanna could see that Rhaenys was not sure how she was supposed to reply to this. What was she supposed to reply? She had not seen Viserys since the end of the rebellion. "I don't know. The Viserys I knew as a child was a gentle boy, who liked to discuss politics with men thrice his age. He took his time to play and talk with me, whenever I asked him to. He was a good boy. But more than a decade in exile can change people. We have taken precautions to ensure that he will be a good ruler, but I can not answer your question. At least not in the way you expect."
"At least you are honest." Olenna replied, "but should this man turn out to be his father's son, our support will not be to his claim."
"I understand," was Rhaenys solemn reply.
Oberyn had watched the exchange quietly so far, but Joann could see that he was itching to say his own piece, "What we want is justice. Justice for those we have lost. Rhaenys is my blood. Dorne will fight for her, to the last man if necessary. Others have to earn our respect first. Be they title claimants and allies. So if some upstart comes and threatens my niece's life, I would feel forced to do something about that. My friend Jaime here, his family has this saying. A Lannister always pays his dept. Well they are not the only ones to abide to that rule."
A chill went down her spine, as Joanna heard Oberyn's words. She had learned quickly, that when the Red Viper, or one of his daughters for that matter, made a promise such as this, they could only be stopped by killing them. And she knew that the objects of his hatred were mostly members of her own extended family. She was just happy that all Lannisters she actually cared for, were on the right side in this conflict. That still did nothing to keep the disturbing images out of her head.
"A threat duly noted," was the only reply of the old lady, before she returned her attention to Rhaenys, "But we have some more stipulations for our full support in this mad war you are planning. Call them... minor reassurances."
"And what stipulations are you thinking of?" Rhaenys replied.
Now the old shrew look at her and Joanna felt a bit queasy. What could that old woman want from her? "Most importantly, my grandson, your future husband, will travel with you to Dorne. There you will share all your current secrets and plans concerning this war with him. This alliance can only exist, when the Reach can lead it together with you, instead of being reduced to mindless pieces in a Cyvasse game. Though I wonder, should we consider you to be the king or the dragon in this game?"
Rhaenys looked at Jaime and Oberyn for a moment, before she answered resolutely, "These terms are agreeable. I'll be looking forward to traveling with my future husband to my own homeland and..."
"There is one more condition." Olenna quickly interrupted Rhaenys, without any care for being rude to a royal princess, "Your daughter, Ser Jaime."
"What about my daughter?" Jaime asked defensively.
"She is a girl with a quick wit and a sharp tongue. From the few conversations I had with her, it is easy to see that there is potential. But right now you squander it, by allowing her to do as she pleases. Such talent must be honed. Trained to be used in the future. She can make it far. Much further than even my Margaery."
Joanna wasn't sure whether she should feel insulted or praised by the old woman's words. But one thing was for sure, Lady Olenna wanted something or else she wouldn't have brought this up. And Joanna had the strange feeling of premonition.
"With my granddaughter gone to Storm's End with her husband, I feel the need to find myself a new pupil. Therefore my final condition is that your daughter will stay here at Highgarden, as my ward. Here I shall teach her to use her brain first and not just that sharp tongue." Olenna finally finished her demand. And it was what Joanna had dreaded. She really did not want this. She could barely stand staying with this old woman longer than courtesy dictates. But staying with her for years? Enduring scathing remarks about her family, smelling the reeking breath of this old woman and watching her decay... no. She did not want to stay. She wanted to be with her family. Her mother, her father, her sisters and brothers. Her friends at the Water Gardens, who are eagerly waiting for her return to share the experiences she had made here... but it wasn't her decision.
"Why would you want my daughter as your ward? So far you have shown little interest in her. This does sound suspicious." Jaime said, as his gaze wandered from Olenna to his daughter and back. He looked to be in deep thought.
"It is merely an offer among allies. As partners in this war, there is no reason to distrust each other. Or am I wrong here?" Olenna asked almost mockingly.
"You don't want a ward. You want a hostage, an insurance for your grandsons safety. You can't force Rhaenys to stay, so you want me!" Joanna finally couldn't keep it inside her. She had to get this out, quickly. But she almost winced when she heard how childish her accusation sounded, no matter how true it was.
"You are not dumb, child, but you ain't clever either. Right now you are blunt weapon, but I can turn you into a deadly and sharp blade that can actually make a difference for your family's future."
"I..."
"Lady Olenna, this is not a decision I wish to make lightly," Jaime replied, "Leaving my oldest daughter here, with you, at the beginning of a new war. That is definitely not a decision that can be made just like that."
"You fear for her safety, do you not? Don't lie, I can see it in your face. I am not that blind yet. You fear for her as a good father should. I will give you until tomorrow to decide." Lady Olenna said, "Willas, it is getting late and I will retire now. Feel free to stay and talk to your new betrothed. Get to know her better and all that." With the help of a servant the old lady stood up from her chair and left the tent, not looking back even once.
It had been a restless night for Joanna. And a short one, too. She had not talked to her parents yet, but she knew that her mother and her father had discussed Lady Olenna's demand until late at night. Depending on what they would decide, this could possibly be the last day she would spend with Rhaenys and her family. The last day in a long time. She really did not want to stay here. Not alone at least.
She had tossed and turned in her sleep, until she just couldn't take it anymore and stood back up. She saw that both Rhaenys and Nymeria had yet to wake up again, so she quietly left the tent, only taking a simple brown robe, to cover the light clothes she wore at sleep here. The air was already a bit chilly in the morning hours. A sign of the approaching winter, her father had told her a few days before. But the Reach seemed oddly cold in comparison to Dorne. For a moment she even wondered whether Casterly Rock would be even colder...
But all contemplations stopped, when she saw the rising sun over the hills. A blinding light... though she could have sworn that the dominant color had been a bloody red this morning. Had she been superstitious, she would have suspected that this day would bring much tragedy. But she was too rational to believe in such things...
She wandered around aimlessly, undisturbed by the guards who knew her well enough to know that she was not a threat. From all she could see, Joanna could only conclude that it would be just another day like all the others, except for life changing decisions that her parents had to make. That was at least until she saw a very peculiar sight. Twelve men, all dressed in dark red and gold Lannister armor, accompanied by one young woman. There was only one man who was allowed to enter their camp in such a garb and Ser Addam was not among them. She watched them with undisguised curiosity, as they got closer and closer to her and the dornish camp.
"Careful, men, only a few more steps and you are the newest training for the archers here at this camp. Servants of Tywin Lannister are not welcome here." She warned them, as they were close enough to hear her. And she spoke the truth. Though they were hidden, she knew where most of the guards are and that they had already seen the would be intruders. These men would not get far.
One of the Lannister men stepped forward. A man who looked a bit younger than her father, but bore the same distinct Lannister features. The same golden hair, though his was cut short and a similar facial structure like her father. Though his eyes were hazel colored, not green. The same Lannister feature she lacked, much to her own amusement. She was sure that this man was a member of her family, though she couldn't say for sure how closely related he was to her. But the ornaments in the form of lion heads on his armor made it obvious that he was far above the rest of his group in social standing and wealth. She wondered idly if the other men had shown their annoyance to him. Some did scowl at his back. And judging by his pug nose, yes they had.
"We are here on orders of Lord Tywin Lannister to meet his son, Ser Jaime Lannister. Run along and fetch your master, girl." The man said cockily, as he looked down on her. Oh how she hated it, that all adults could do that. She hoped that she would hit a growth spurt soon. This man, like her own father, had more than two heads on her in height.
"Excuse me, but who do you think you are, to order me around?" She asked, outraged by this.
"I am Ser Daven Lannister and you should watch your tone, servant girl. I detest violence against women, but even my patience is not endless and your masters will likely punish you, should I reveal your disobedience and cheek."
Servant girl? She felt abhorred by this. Why would he think that she was merely a servant? Then she looked down and saw that her robe was truly very plain. Not a single sign that would indicate that she was of noble birth. And she had not cared for her looks after this restless night, when she left the tent. But was that really enough to make her look like a servant girl? Oh she would show him.
"But of course, noble lord. Anything else this humble servant could get you? Some water perhaps, that armor does look quite warm. Or a chair to rest your old bones, until Ser Jaime arrives?" She mock bowed before him, as she started her onslaught. He was obviously stumped by the sudden change in her attitude.
"No thank you, just get..."
"Or maybe our Maester. That broken nose does look quite painful," She continued, without letting him finish his own sentence.
"My nose is not broken!" Daven growled indignantly.
"Ah, forgive me, kind lord. It just looked oddly shaped, as if you had jumped off your horse face first."
"Hey! Just wait you damn little..."
"Careful, kind lord, you are about to cross the border of the camp and then you would be fair game for our guards. Wouldn't want them to hurt an old and honorable member of House Lannister."
"I AM NOT OLD! NOW GET ME MY COUSIN, DAMN YOU!" Daven shouted, loud enough that he must have woken up half of the camp for sure. Joanna smirked as she imagined what Oberyn would do to him, should this yelling have woken him up. What amused her more, was that the only woman in his group was just as amused as she was herself. The woman had a hard time to keep herself from laughing at Daven. His men were more composed, though Joanna wondered how much more would be needed to crack them as well.
"What is going on here?" Joanna turned around and saw Ser Addam approach, a look of annoyance on his face. "Do you have any idea what you are doing here, Daven?"
"Addam! Finally a reasonable person to talk to. I am here to talk to Jaime, but that darn servant there decided to insult me!" Daven said.
Addam looked around, searching for a servant. But he couldn't find any. He only saw Joanna, who smirked at him. He understood easily what had happened. "There is no servant here, Daven."
"Are you blind, she is standing right next to you?"
"No, he isn't blind. But you obviously are. What a sad day for House Lannister. The blind lion has decided to leave his cave and brings shame to his family." Joanna continued to mock him.
"Damn you..."
"Daven, stop," Addam ordered imperiously. Joanna knew that this knight would not allow Daven to harm her. She considered mocking him some more, it was a nice way to lighten her mood. But in the end she decided against it. Her father would be displeased with her.
"Why are you protecting that wench?"
"I am not protecting her, I am protecting you. Lord Tywin would not be happy, should you cause his favorite granddaughter any harm." Addam explained calmly. But the mirth in his eyes revealed to Joanna, that he was just as amused as she was. He was just better at hiding it.
"Wait, what?"
"Daven, may I introduce, Joanna Lannister. Daughter of Ser Jaime Lannister and Allyria Dayne, current favorite among Lord Tywin's grandchildren." Addam said. Joanna mock bowed once more, as she allowed her robe to slip open, so Daven could see the much more fancy clothing she wore underneath the warm, but plain robe. Just the look he had on his face now was absolutely worth it. A mixture of shock, disbelief and humiliation. It was absolutely hilarious.
"Well, I believe I am done here. Ser Addam, please take care of this man and his friends." Joanna said casually, "I will return to the princess now."
She walked away with a bright smile, that quickly turned into laughter, when she heard Ser Addam tell the other Lannister man, "Daven, you truly are an idiot." Oh yes, this morning had been the perfect distraction.
Sadly her mood did not last for long. Only a few hours later she was back in a tent, with Rhaenys and Nymeria, the mood somber and a heavy silence grating on their nerves. The reason for their mood was simple. They had yet to get an answer from Ser Jaime, about the future of his daughter. For hours he had been arguing with his wife and no one could tell whether they would accept Lady Olenna's offer or not.
"Argh, I can't take this any more. Why can't they just say yes or no and be done with it?" Joanna groaned, as she finally snapped.
"This is not an easy decision to make, Joanna. Sending away your child for fostering has a long standing tradition. Had the rebellion never happened, I would have been sent away as well." Rhaenys said calmly.
"Really?"
"Yes. It was my mother's idea. She had convinced my father to send me to Dorne, to live with uncle Doran, once I would have turned six. They wanted me to know my mother's homeland, before I would have been forced to marry my uncle. And my mother wanted to keep me as far away from my grandfather as possible." Joanna looked surprised as she heard this. Rhaenys had never really spoken about what would have been. It was a world that would never be and Rhaenys had once said that she would only wallow in grief, should she allow herself to think about the what ifs. Joanna could easily agree to that. Had there never been a rebellion, she would have never been born. Her father would still be Kingsguard, sworn to remain childless for ever. She really did not like to think about this... she liked her life so far.
"Wouldn't that have been a dreadful time. Spending time in Dorne, without me to cheer you up," Joanna lamented with a mocking smile.
Rhaenys laughed lightly as she saw the smile of her surrogate sister. "Yeah, what would I do without my darling little sister?"
"Why do I feel so cheap all of a sudden?" Nymeria asked, as she rejoined the conversation, "Apparently being cousins doesn't count."
"It does, Nymeria. I am sorry. But all of you are years older than me or too young to be considered companions. All of you are so independent. But being there to see a little sister growing up... that is a bond that cannot be broken that easily."
Nymeria's expression softened considerably, as she heard this. "I understand what you mean. It was the same for me and Tyene. Getting a little sister to watch over is something very special. You..." She was cut off, when parts of the tent suddenly collapsed on her, the heavy fabric pushing her down.
Joanna quickly ran over to Nymeria, intent to help the girl get out from under her heavy covering. It was in that moment, when she saw him. The intruder who approached Rhaenys from behind. He was so silent that Rhaenys had yet to realize that someone was there with them.
"Rhaenys, watch out!" Joanna cried in fear, "GUARDS! QUICKLY!"
But they wouldn't make it in time. Joanna knew they wouldn't make it. And she could only watch, afraid. Not for herself, but for her surrogate sister. The man had a dagger in his hand and there was no doubt that he would use it.
When Rhaenys turned around to face the man, her was already close enough to strike. Just an arms length away from her. The blade of the dagger shone in the light of the sun, that penetrated the tent through the large wholes that the collapsed part had left. It looked almost as if the dagger was on fire.
"Assassin. I should have known that the fat swine would not dare to face me like a true ruler should." Rhaenys spat, as she looked directly in the face of her would be murderer.
"Ah, queenly girl, you assume that this man is here to kill you."
"Are you not an assassin?"
"Aye, this man does the Many-Faced God's bidding." The assassin replied.
"A Faceless man then. Should I feel flattered now, knowing that the Usurper is willing to pay a huge fortune to see me dead?" Joanna paled as she heard this. Prince Oberyn had told her and Arthur stories about these Faceless men. Arguably the best assassins known to mankind. If he was really here to kill Rhaenys, then no one would be able to save her. But at the same time she was impressed by the way Rhaenys faced death, seemingly with no fear at all.
The man smirked, obviously pleased that she knew whom she faced. "Ah, but this man has not been paid to kill. Your enemy wants you dead, but a man who is not willing to pay, can not enlist our services."
"What do you...?"
He suddenly grabbed Rhaenys arm and pulled it to her. She struggled against his grip, but he was obviously stronger than her. But he didn't strike her down, instead he pressed his dagger in her hand and closed her fingers around its hilt, before he took a step back.
"Heed this warning, blood of Valyria, the path you are about to take will be paved with the bodies of those you love. Tread carefully."
"I don't understand..."
"My work is done, the warning has been delivered. The Many-Faced god is pleased. The next of my brothers to visit you, will offer your name to our god. Be wary!" The assassin said. Before he turned around. He was about to leave, as the front of the tent burst open and a heavily armored knight entered, followed by the guards, Prince Oberyn and Ser Jaime. Only belatedly Joanna realized that the first knight to enter was clad in the armor of the Kingsguard. She even recognized him. The old man, the Knight Commander. Ser Barristan Selmy. But why was he here?
She watched in stunned silence, as the knight ran past her and towards the princess, his sword in his hand. Much quicker than she would have expected from a man his age, he reached Rhaenys and quickly pushed her behind him, in an effort to shield her. Not knowing that the assassin was not here to really kill the princess, he attacked the man, who retaliated in kind. It was almost as if the assassin danced around the knight, to avoid his strikes. But he wouldn't stand a chance, as Jaime and Oberyn had nearly reached them as well. He pulled out another knife and rammed it into the a small, unarmored place on the side of Ser Barristan's armor. The knight winced in pain, but stood his ground. But he wasn't able to stop the assassin from fleeing the scene.
"Rhaenys, are you alright?" Oberyn asked the princess, as he reached her.
Rhaenys merely nodded, before her attention shifted to Ser Barristan, who was bleeding profusely from the wound he had received. "Why?" The princess asked the knight. It was the same question that Joanna had asked herself.
"Because in the end I had to realize that I have broken my oath, every day I served the Usurper. That man is no king... there is only a queen in Westeros." Ser Barristan replied, between heavy breaths. It was obvious that he was in pain and would need treatment soon. But Joanna wasn't sure, whether he would receive it here. No matter his actions today, he still was the servant of the princess' enemy. He collapsed moments later.
"Get him to a Maester. Quickly. I don't want him to die." Rhaenys ordered quickly. Joanna could see the slight panic in the princess' eyes when the knight collapsed. It was obvious that there was still some lingering fondness for the old knight, from her childhood days in King's Landing. "Don't look like that, the assassin did not harm me, help Ser Barristan." Now some of the guards reacted and carried the wounded knight away.
Joanna simply watched the scene silently. She was still slightly petrified from the fear she had felt moments before. Fear for her sister's life and for her own. She could only watch, when Nymeria tried to free herself to help Rhaenys. She could only watch, as Rhaenys' knights and guards came to her aid. She could do nothing but watch... and deep down she felt ashamed of herself. After growing up with so many strong and skilled girls in Dorne, being the damsel in distress did not sit well with her. She wondered if she was of any other use at all...
"Joanna, are you alright?" Her father asked her, a look of worry on his face.
She hesitated at first, her gaze still fixed on Rhaenys, before she looked at her father. "Yes, I..."
"THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW! RALLY THE MEN, THAT FAT SWINE PAYS!" Oberyn's yelling interrupted her, as the Dornish prince left the tent with a furious look on his face.
"This is not good. Everything will escalate now." Her father said with a deep sigh. Joanna could barely fathom what this assassin had started here. "I have to get you and your mother to safety... but I can't allow that hothead to run around unchecked," he said, as he saw Oberyn leave. "Daven!" He called for the Lannister, whom Joanna had mocked this morning. He came quickly, a bothered look on his face. This was obviously not what he had expected his first day with the loyalists to be like. "Take some men and bring my daughter to Highgarden. Bring her to Lady Olenna, she will keep an eye on her. Do not loiter and do not allow anyone near her, do you understand?"
"Yes, Ser Jaime. I am not deaf."
"I entrust my daughter's safety to you. Do not make me regret this, Daven." Jaime said seriously, before he ran after Oberyn.
Joanna wanted to stop him, to talk to him. To tell him what had really happened. But he was too fast and wouldn't have heard her. And again she felt this dread. As if this would be the last time she would see her father...
"Come, Joanna. We have no time to waste." Daven said, as he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the tent. She did not resist.
Outside she could see the commotion that Oberyn had caused. Men were running around, gathering their weapons and armors. Others were already dressed for battle and crowded around Prince Oberyn, who planned their attack on the Usurper and his lackeys. She had hoped to see another glimpse of her father or at least her mother and brother. But she had no such luck. She saw neither of them.
Six Lannister men and two from Starfall gathered around her, as Daven quickly lead her towards the castle of Highgarden. It looked so imposing now. Menacing. Like a prison she would never be able to escape.
"Hold," Daven ordered suddenly. "Stark men ahead. They must have sent them to intercept the communication between our camp and the Tyrells." Joanna wondered when exactly the loyalist camp had become his camp, after all Daven Lannister was a loyal servant of her grandfather, Lord Tywin. But she had no time to ponder this. "Men, engage them. Distract them, so I can bring Lady Joanna to the Tyrells." The eight guards complied wordlessly and charged towards the Stark men with fierce battle shouts.
She couldn't watch the fight, though, and only heard the sounds, as Daven pulled her behind a nearby tent. He muttered something, but she did not understand. She only allowed him to pull her along. But they had no luck this day, as it seemed. Riders approached them quickly from the back. They were lead by another man in white armor.
This time she understood the curse Daven had spat. She knew this one, Nymeria had taught her and Rhaenys this one, when they were still very young. Her mother had been so abhorred when she heard it for the first time from her mouth...
"Watch out!" Daven yelled. He tried to push her out of the way, as the rider tried to run them over. He only succeeded barely. He was knocked back, away from her. But she was hit by the heavy horse. For a moment her world went black, as she was thrown into a nearby tent by the force of the impact.
When her consciousness returned, she realized two things. Daven was obviously fighting against the rider in Kingsguard armor. A fierce fight, that could only end with the death of one of them. And the other thing she realized, much to her horror, was that the tent around her had started to burn. Everything around her burned, not just the tent she was in, but all the other tents around them as well. Everything burned. And all she could do now, was scream, as the burning tent collapsed onto her. And for the second time this day her world turned black... but this time for good.