Earlier today I received the nicest message from Ellarose181 which inspired me to write another chapter. I'm dedicating this chapter to her as without that message the next chapter wouldn't be uploaded till next week probably. Thanks as well to everyone else that favourite or followed or reviewed, every time I get a notification it makes me smile.

This chapter will be longer than the others as the second part contains a lot of original text.

JOFFREY

"I don't know whether the boy falling is a blessing or a curse, dear sister." Joffrey mused, blowing a golden curl into Joanna's face, watching as she scowled.

"Stop that, if Lord Stark hears then Sansa may no longer see you as Prince Perfect." Joanna hissed, leaning in to Joffrey as the trotted along.

They rode next to each other near the front of the party, the King and Lord Stark a few yards in front of them and Joanna's favourite uncle not far behind. The twins were riding side by side, riding almost identical horses.

Joffrey rolled his eyes and ignored Joanna's warning. "I meant that we get to return home quicker. The sooner we are surrounded by civilised people the better. I didn't know how much longer I could stand around those savages."

"Not that I don't agree with everything you just said… how is it a curse, Joff?" She asked, confused. Joanna couldn't wait to be home, the sooner they were back in Kings Landing the sooner she and Joffrey could have some intimate time. Since their confrontation when they first arrived at Winterfell Joffrey hadn't been as rude however his hostile attitude hadn't completely waned.

Normally Joffrey was overly attentive, personal space was non-existent. However since Joffrey's engagement to Sansa Stark had been announced he had been spending less and less time with Joanna. She would never admit that she was at all jealous, her pride preventing her from acknowledging the hatred she would feel when Joffrey would laugh at a joke that she should be telling. Usually any pretty girl that caught Joffrey's attention would quickly and quietly vanish after a visit from Joanna. They wouldn't be hurt physically, but the same couldn't be said for the boys that paid attention to Joanna. Serving boys would leave the Red Keep with bruises and the knowledge that nobody was allowed to even look at Joanna without Joffrey's permission.

"It means we have less time until father starts to arrange a match for you. We will have some time as he gets over having his best friend back but as soon as lord stark settles in we can expect suitors coming from all over Westeros for your hand." Joffrey explained angrily, his eyes darkening at the thought of his Joanna being taken from him.

"You look handsome when you're jealous." Joanna giggled, staring into her brothers eyes.

"I am not jealous!" Joffrey snapped quietly, struggling to keep his voice unheard. "Besides, you always find me handsome."

"Which means you're always jealous, my dear Joffrey."

Joanna laughed at her twin's angry face and sped her horse to a canter so she could ride with Jaime.

JOANNA

Robert was slumped in Darry's high seat at the far end of the room, his face closed and sullen. Cersei Lannister and her son stood beside him. The queen had her hand on Joffrey's shoulder. Thick silken bandages still covered the boy's arm. Joanna stood right next to her brother, her hand tightly clasping Joffrey's uninjured arm.

Arya stood in the center of the room, alone but for Jory Cassel, every eye upon her. "Arya," Ned called loudly. He went to her, his boots ringing on the stone floor. When she saw him, she cried out and began to sob. Joanna couldn't help but glare at her, blaming the Stark wolf for the injury of her love.

Ned went to one knee and took Arya in his arms. She was shaking. "I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"I know," he said. She felt so tiny in his arms, nothing but a scrawny little girl. It was hard to see how she had caused so much trouble. "Are you hurt?"

"No." Her face was dirty, and her tears left pink tracks down her cheeks. "Hungry some. I ate some berries, but there was nothing else."

"We'll feed you soon enough," Ned promised. He rose to face the king. "What is the meaning of this?" His eyes swept the room, searching for friendly faces. But for his own men, they were few enough. Ser Raymun Darry guarded his look well. Lord Renly wore a half smile that might mean anything, and old Ser Barristan was grave; the rest were Lannister men, and hostile. Their only good fortune was that both Jaime Lannister and Sandor Clegane were missing, leading searches north of the Trident. "Why was I not told that my daughter had been found?" Ned demanded, his voice ringing. "Why was she not brought to me at once?"

He spoke to Robert, but it was Cersei Lannister who answered. "How dare you speak to your king in that manner!"

At that, the king stirred. "Quiet, woman," he snapped. He straightened in his seat. "I am sorry, Ned. I never meant to frighten the girl. It seemed best to bring her here and get the business done with quickly."

"And what business is that?" Ned put ice in his voice.

The queen stepped forward. "You know full well, Stark. This girl of yours attacked my son. Her and her butcher's boy. That animal of hers tried to tear his arm off."

Shuddering at the thought Joanna clung to her brother as if the beast was still there, ready to attack Joffrey.

"That's not true," Arya said loudly. "She just bit him a little. He was hurting Mycah."

Joanna argued, "That's not what happened! Joff wouldn't do that."

Arya glared at the Princess. "You weren't even there. How would you know?"

"Joff told us what happened," the queen said. "You and the butcher boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him."

"That's not how it was," Arya said, close to tears again. Ned put a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes it is!" Prince Joffrey insisted. "They all attacked me, and she threw Lion's Tooth in the river!" Ned noticed that he did not as much as glance at Arya as he spoke but the icy look Princess Joanna was giving his youngest daughter more than made up for it.

"Liar!" Arya yelled.

"Shut up!" the prince yelled back, only his sisters grip stopping him from pouncing.

"Enough!" the king roared, rising from his seat, his voice thick with irritation. Silence fell. He glowered at Arya through his thick beard. "Now, child, you will tell me what happened. Tell it all, and tell it true. It is a great crime to lie to a king." Then he looked over at his son. "When she is done, you will have your turn. Until then, hold your tongue."

As Arya began her story, Ned heard the door open behind him. He glanced back and saw Vayon Poole enter with Sansa. They stood quietly at the back of the hall as Arya spoke. When she got to the part where she threw Joffrey's sword into the middle of the Trident, Renly Baratheon began to laugh. The king bristled. "Ser Barristan, escort my brother from the hall before he chokes."

Lord Renly stifled his laughter. "My brother is too kind. I can find the door myself." He bowed to Joffrey. "Perchance later you'll tell me how a nine-year-old girl the size of a wet rat managed to disarm you with a broom handle and throw your sword in the river." As the door swung shut behind him, Ned heard him say, "Lion's Tooth," and guffaw once more.

"The girl probably took Joff by surprise; he didn't have time to defend himself. Otherwise Joffrey would have easily disarmed her. He-"

"Quiet, child!" Robert snapped, silencing his daughter.

Prince Joffrey was pale as he began his very different version of events. When his son was done talking, the king rose heavily from his seat, looking like a man who wanted to be anywhere but here. "What in all the seven hells am I supposed to make of this? He says one thing, she says another."

"They were not the only ones present," Ned said. "Sansa, come here." Ned had heard her version of the story the night Arya had vanished. He knew the truth. "Tell us what happened."

His eldest daughter stepped forward hesitantly. She was dressed in blue velvets trimmed with white, a silver chain around her neck. Her thick auburn hair had been brushed until it shone. She blinked at her sister, then at the young prince. "I don't know," she said tearfully, looking as though she wanted to bolt. "I don't remember. Everything happened so fast, I didn't see . . . "A glare from Joanna immediately cutting her off.

"You rotten!" Arya shrieked. She flew at her sister like an arrow, knocking Sansa down to the ground, pummeling her. "Liar, liar, liar, liar."

"Arya, stop it!" Ned shouted. Jory pulled her off her sister, kicking. Sansa was pale and shaking as Ned lifted her back to her feet. "Are you hurt?" he asked, but she was staring at Arya, and she did not seem to hear.

"The girl is as wild as that filthy animal of hers, I don't want her around my children" Cersei Lannister said, putting one arm around each twin protectively. "Robert, I want her punished."

"Seven hells," Robert swore. "Cersei, look at her. She's a child. What would you have me do, whip her through the streets? Damn it, children fight. It's over. No lasting harm was done. At least she has a fighting spirit, unlikely these lion cubs you're raising."

The queen was furious. "Joff will carry those scars for the rest of his life."

Robert Baratheon looked at his eldest son. "So he will. Perhaps they will teach him a lesson. Ned, see that your daughter is disciplined. I will do the same with my son."

"Gladly, Your Grace," Ned said with vast relief.

Robert started to walk away, but the queen was not done. "And what of the direwolf?" she called after him. "What of the beast that savaged your son?"

The king stopped, turned back, frowned. "I'd forgotten about the damned wolf."

This earned a victorious smirk from Joanna, who didn't want anything else but justice for the savage attack on her other half.

Ned could see Arya tense in Jory's arms. Jory spoke up quickly. "We found no trace of the direwolf, Your Grace."

Robert did not look unhappy. "No? So be it."

The queen raised her voice. "A hundred golden dragons to the man who brings me its skin!"

"A costly pelt," Robert grumbled. "I want no part of this, woman. You can damn well buy your furs with Lannister gold."

The queen regarded him coolly. "I had not thought you so niggardly. The king I'd thought to wed would have laid a wolfskin across my bed before the sun went down."

Robert's face darkened with anger. "That would be a fine trick, without a wolf."

"We have a wolf," Cersei Lannister said. Her voice was very quiet, but her green eyes shone with triumph.

It took them all a moment to comprehend her words, but when they did, the king shrugged irritably. "As you will. Have Ser Ilyn see to it."

"Robert, you cannot mean this," Ned protested.

The king was in no mood for more argument. "Enough, Ned, I will hear no more. A direwolf is a savage beast. Sooner or later it would have turned on your girl the same way the other did on my son. Get her a dog, she'll be happier for it."

The twins glanced at each other, their green eyes shining with emotion. Joffrey's piercing with victory, Joanna's ripe with relief.

Yay. Another chapter. There won't be much deviation to the original story for now, but within the next few chapters Joanna will definitely come into her own. Next chapter will be Joanna/Joffrey interaction with Joffrey gradually getting worse, and Joanna/Ned for the first time. I won't be including parts that don't involve Joanna to some degree as I want things to be revealed as Joanna discovers them.