JOANNA
A herald's voice rang out. "All hail His Grace, Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the First of his Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. All hail his lady mother, Cersei of House Lannister, Queen Regent, Light of the West, and Protector of the Realm."
Ser Barristan Selmy, resplendent in white plate, led them in. Ser Arys Oakheart escorted the queen, while Ser Boros Blount walked beside Joffrey, so six of the Kingsguard were now in the hall, all the White Swords save Jaime Lannister alone. She had not spoken to him about last night yet and quite frankly Joanna didn't want to. In a perfect world she could just pretend that it never happened but she knew that Joffrey was likely to hold it over her head for a long time. Joff wore plush black velvets slashed with crimson, a shimmering cloth-of-gold cape with a high collar, and on his head a golden crown crusted with rubies and black diamonds.
When Joffrey turned to look out over the hall, his eyes purposely avoided hers, instead meeting Sansa's. He smiled, seated himself, and spoke. "It is a king's duty to punish the disloyal and reward those who are true. Grand Maester Pycelle, I command you to read my decrees."
Despite Joanna's anger towards Joffrey she couldn't help but be happy at the control he had over everyone. To her confidence was one of Joffrey's best features, a weak man was barely a man at all.
Pycelle pushed himself to his feet. He was clad in a magnificent robe of thick red velvet, with an ermine collar and shiny gold fastenings. From a drooping sleeve, heavy with gilded scrollwork, he drew a parchment, unrolled it, and began to read a long list of names, commanding each in the name of king and council to present themselves and swear their fealty to Joffrey. Failing that, they would be adjudged traitors, their lands and titles forfeit to the throne.
Joanna was both happy and worried that Lord Stark was a traitor, if he was guilty then he wouldn't be able to tell anyone about Joff and her and his credibility was ruined but unfortunately it also meant that people would actually be listening when he spoke.
The names he read included those who were family, blood, but still outrageously thought that Joffrey had no right on the throne: Lord Stannis Baratheon, his lady wife, his daughter. Lord Renly Baratheon. Both Lord Royces and their sons. Ser Loras Tyrell. Lord Mace Tyrell, his brothers, uncles, sons. The red priest, Thoros of Myr. Lord Beric Dondarrion. Lady Lysa Arryn and her son, the little Lord Robert. Lord Hoster Tully, his brother Ser Brynden, his son Ser Edmure. Lord Jason Mallister. Lord Bryce Caron of the Marches. Lord Tytos Blackwood. Lord Walder Frey and his heir Ser Stevron. Lord Karyl Vance. Lord Jonos Bracken. Lady Sheila Whent. Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, and all his sons.
Some of these names meant absolutely nothing to Joanna but the sheer number of names made her questions what kind of lies Eddard Stark must have told them to make them believe that her and her siblings were bastards.
And at the end, near last, came the names Joanna was waiting to hear. Lady Catelyn Stark. Robb Stark. Brandon Stark, Rickon Stark, Arya Stark. Joanna heard a gasp come from Sansa Stark but she refused to look at the face of the girl who wanted to marry her brother. She had hoped that Joffrey's betrothed would be ugly but sadly Sansa was pretty in a plain, Northern way.
Grand Maester Pycelle rolled up the list, tucked it up his left sleeve, and pulled another parchment from his right. He cleared his throat and resumed. "In the place of the traitor Eddard Stark, it is the wish of His Grace that Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, take up the office of Hand of the King, to speak with his voice, lead his armies against his enemies, and carry out his royal will. So the king has decreed. The small council consents."
Joanna knew that both her and Joff weren't close to their grandfather but he was extremely smart and she couldn't think of anyone better to be the new Hand.
"In the place of the traitor Stannis Baratheon, it is the wish of His Grace that his lady mother, the Queen Regent Cersei Lannister, who has ever been his staunchest support, be seated upon his small council, that she may help him rule wisely and with justice. So the king has decreed. The small council consents."
Eventually it was the Starks turn to testify.
"The Lady Sansa, of House Stark," the herald cried.
The auburn-haired girl stopped under the throne, at the spot where Ser Barristan's white cloak lay puddled on the floor beside his helm and breastplate. "Do you have some business for king and council, Sansa?" the queen asked from the council table.
"I do." She knelt on the cloak, so as not to spoil her gown, and looked up at her prince on his fearsome black throne. "As it please Your Grace, I ask mercy for my father, Lord Eddard Stark, who was the Hand of the King." She had practiced the words a hundred times.
Joanna smirked, her father was a traitor and a liar who attempted to overthrow Joffrey, did she really think that he deserved mercy?
The queen sighed. "Sansa, you disappoint me. What did I tell you about traitor's blood?"
"Your father has committed grave and terrible crimes, my lady," Grand Maester Pycelle intoned.
"Ah, poor sad thing," sighed Varys. "She is only a babe, my lords, she does not know what she asks."
She obviously knows enough to try and steal Joffrey, Joanna thought angrily.
Sansa had eyes only for Joffrey. The king shifted on his seat, "Let her speak," he commanded. "I want to hear what she says."
Joanna was mere moments from complaining. Had Joffrey forgotten what had happened last night? They were each others firsts. That meant something. She knew Joffrey was going to marry but his fondness for Sansa was annoying to say the least.
"Thank you, Your Grace." Sansa smiled, a shy secret smile, just for him. He was listening. She knew he would and this only fuelled Joanna's hatred for the girl.
"Treason is a noxious weed," Pycelle declared solemnly. "It must be torn up, root and stem and seed, lest new traitors sprout from every roadside."
She nodded and placed a hand on Joffrey's shoulder, hoping he would agree.
"Do you deny your father's crime?" Lord Baelish asked.
"No, my lords." Sansa knew better than that. "I know he must be punished. All I ask is mercy. I know my lord father must regret what he did. He was King Robert's friend and he loved him, you all know he loved him. He never wanted to be Hand until the king asked him. They must have lied to him. Lord Renly or Lord Stannis or . . . or somebody, they must have lied, otherwise . . . "
Was the girl really that blind? Did she really not see that it was her father, Lord Stark, who was to blame for everything? It was him who had spread these lies and deceit to the others. If anything it was everyone but Lord Stark who should be spared.
King Joffrey leaned forward, hands grasping the arms of the throne. Broken sword points fanned out between his fingers. "He said I wasn't the king. Why did he say that?"
"His leg was broken," Sansa replied eagerly. "It hurt ever so much, Maester Pycelle was giving him milk of the poppy, and they say that milk of the poppy fills your head with clouds. Otherwise he would never have said it."
Varys said, "A child's faith . . . such sweet innocence . . . and yet, they say wisdom oft comes from the mouths of babes."
Would somebody just shut this eunuch's mouth, Joanna felt like shouting. One second he was defending Lord Stark the next he was condemning him.
"Treason is treason," Pycelle replied at once.
Joffrey rocked restlessly on the throne. "Mother?"
Cersei Lannister considered Sansa thoughtfully. "If Lord Eddard were to confess his crime," she said at last, "we would know he had repented his folly."
"But the damage has already been done!" Joanna commented, turning to her mother earnestly.
Joffrey pushed himself to his feet. "Do you have any more to say?" he asked Sansa.
"Only . . . that as you love me, you do me this kindness, my prince," Sansa said.
Her mother took her hand and it was only Cersei's grip that stopped Joanna from pouncing on Sansa.
King Joffrey looked her up and down. "Your sweet words have moved me," he said gallantly, nodding, as if to say all would be well. "I shall do as you ask . . . but first your father has to confess. He has to confess and say that I'm the king, or there will be no mercy for him."
"He will," Sansa said, heart soaring. "Oh, I know he will."
But Joanna knew it wouldn't be that easy.
I hope it is clear that Joanna is beginning to change her ways and gradually mistrusting Joffrey however she still has a long way to go. Her blind faith for Joffrey has meant that she was more angry with Sansa, who had done anything wrong, than Joffrey who basically raped her the night before.