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Weeks had passed in Winterfell. Most of the men had left on a hunt in Wolfswood. Lyarra and Joanna had grown closer. She was nearly as close as Marleina and Joanna were. Robb and Joanna had become good friends. Joanna black hair was braided back keeping the hair out of her face. There were two of them on each side. Then there was fishtail braid where the other braids met in the back that hung down her back. The rest of her hair was down in loose waves. She dressed in a blood-red gown. It had a tuck in waist the corseted back of the gown pushed breast up. It had had high neckline was closed with stag broach. It had a keyhole opened that showed the top of her breast. The sleeves were long and flowy much like the bottom of the gown it had flowers and stags sewn into the skirt. On her feet were boots for walking in the snow. She wore a cloak with black fur around her neck and her hands. She was walking with Meraxes Starr, Lyarra, and Aegon. Starr and Meraxes were playing together in the falling snow. Lyarra and Joanna laughed at their antics. They paused by the pool by the Hearttree in the Godswoods. Joanna smiled looking over to Aegon. He looked like he wanted to talk to her alone.

"Lyarra," Joanna called.

"Yes Anna," Lyarra asked.

"Could you take Meraxes and Starr back to the keep. I wish to linger longer here but I fear that Meraxes is not meant for this cold weather," Joanna told her.

"Of Course, Anna," Lyarra said taking Meraxes and Starr in hand.

Once they were alone, Aegon pulled Joanna into a dominating passionate kiss. She returned said kiss not caring about the world around them. They pulled apart when the need for air overwhelm them. Aegon rested his head against her forehead.

"I love you," Aegon muttered.

"You know we can never," Joanna said with tears in her eyes.

"We could, Jo, we could run away to Dorne or even the free cities live together. I just want you to be mine," Aegon reasoned.

"And I want to be yours, but I could never do that to my father," Joanna started.

"Marry me," Aegon said suddenly.

"Aegon be serious," Joanna said.

"I am, I want you as my wife, Seven Hells I don't care if I ever have the Iron Throne. I think I know what my father must have felt for Lyanna. If it is half of what I feel for you, I would go to war for it, happily," Aegon started. Joanna shook her head. Tears were present on her lashes along with falling snow. She was breathtaking to him at that moment. He caught her hand kissing the top of it. It caused her to look at him. "Yes they would be mad, may ever furious but in time your father would accept our union for your happiness," Aegon told her.

"You would have to live a lie for the rest of your life," Joanna told him.

"I'll do it for you, I love you as I am sure that you love me," Aegon said.

"I do, gods forgive me I do. I love you, and I want to marry you but I cannot ask that of you Aegon I love you too much to ask that of you," Joanna cried.

"You are not, marry me," Aegon urged.

"Yes," Joanna conceded.

Aegon reached into his tunic pulling out a ring. It was a large ruby ring set in gold. It was beautiful. He slid it onto Joanna's ring finger. He smiled at her as he looked his mother ring on her finger. Joanna looked down at the ring and smiled.

"It was my mother's," Aegon told her.

"I love it as I love you," Joanna told him leaning up to kiss.

Aegon returned the kiss his hand cupping her chin. He did not know how their lives together would go but he could not picture a life without her in it. He just prayed to any and all of the gods of this world that he made the right choice.

They were walking back to keep out of the forest it was near the tower. She spied Summer pacing by the bottom of the tower; which could only mean only one thing Bran Stark was nearby. What was it that Robb had told her about his brother, he was an excellent climber. She raised her eyes upward. She spied him by a window. Her breath caught in her throat when she also saw her Uncle Jaime. She watched in horror as he pushed him from the tower. "The things I do for love," Jaime muttered as he pushed Bran. Tears welled up in her eyes and rage like nothing before filled her. She knew Jaime only really loved his family.

"Get the maester" Joanna ordered Aegon.

Aegon took off like a bolt. He noticed a fire like rage that filled his beloved voice. He looked at her ran over to Bran. She was cradling his head in her lap. Her eyes looked up at the tower with rage. Bran had seen something that he was not meant to see. That, in turn, meant that he was with, in a romantic way most likely sex, was Myrcella or Cersei. And she had never seen Jaime near Myrcella. That left only Cersei. Seven Hells what Jon Arryn told was true. It all added up now.

Maester Luwin came running up with Catelyn and Aegon. He instantly started working on the unconscious boy. Aegon helped Joanna to her feet as people started to come on to the scene. Catelyn was beside herself.

"You have my deep sympathies, Lady Stark. I'll pray for his quick recovery," Joanna said to Catelyn as she walked away.

"Thank you, princess," Catelyn said.

Aegon led Catelyn away from the scene. Joanna looked sideways on her walk back to the keep. Her worst fear was confirmed when saw Cersei leave the tower followed shortly by Jaime while most everyone was concerned with Bran Stark.

Once in her chambers in Winterfell, she started to pace as her rage filled her. Aegon leaned up against the wall. He watched her pace he knew that something major had happened.

"Joanna," Aegon tried.

"Aegon you offered my council, I need it now. What would you do if you knew something that could cost the one your family their lives? Would you reveal or would you let be? But know this it would change the course of Seven Kingdoms for all times," Joanna asked.

"My love it sounds like you are in between a rock and hard place," Aegon told her. Aegon pulled her into her arms. She huddled into his protective embrace. Tears were pouring down her face. Aegon pulled her face from his chest. He cupped her chin in his hands. His amethyst eyes met her tear-filled blue-green eyes; which at that point looked more blue than green. Her eyes were lined in pink. "What is that you know?" Aegon asked.

"Joffery, Myrcella, and Tommen are not my father children," Joanna revealed.

"Oh my gods," Aegon started.

"It's get worst," Joanna said.

"What is worst?"

"They are the product of an incestuous relationship between my mother and her twin brother Jaime," Joanna revealed.

"You have to tell your father," Aegon urged her.

Joanna nodded her head. She knew she had to tell him. She was cursing her mother and uncle for ever putting her in this place.

That night after Aegon was off to bed. Joanna pulled on her robe tying in around her nightdress. She could hear Summer's mournful cries. She opened the door seeing Ser Barristan Selmy guarding her door. He took one look at her and knew she was on a mission.

"Your Grace, where are you heading," Ser Barristan asked.

"I wish to speak to my mother," Joanna answered like a true queen.

Ser Barristan led her to Cersei chambers. The light was shining underneath the door. He pounded on the door.
"Who is it?" Cersei called.

"Joanna to see your Grace," Ser Barristan answered.

"Send her in," Cersei said.

The door opened and Joanna slipped inside with her head held high. There was a fire in her eyes as she took in her mother. Cersei greeted her eldest daughter with a hug was not returned wholeheartedly. Cersei led Joanna over to a table with two chairs by a fireplace with a roaring fire. Joanna took a seat in one of them she was followed by Cersei. They regarded each other for a long moment. Cersei noticed that her daughter stared at the flames and she was shaking with something inside her. Joanna took a deep shuttering breath.

"Tell me why?" Joanna asked in a grave voice.

"My little lioness I don't know what you are talking about," Cersei tried.

"Do you think that I'm blind? I know that Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen are not my father children. They are the product of a relationship between you and Uncle Jaime. I want to know why?" Joanna said with rage in her voice but never raising her voice.

"How?"

"I knew that they weren't his children for while now. I didn't say anything because of my love for you and Tommen and Myrcella. I will not lie to you and confess a deep love for Joffery. He is a monster and you know it. I love him as much I am able because of you. Lord Arryn told me before he died. And brush him off only to learn that he was right. I saw you. I know what Bran saw. I saw Uncle Jaime push him from the window and you both leaving together. And I put two and two together. Jaime never spent any time with Myrcella, Joffery or Tommen. But he spent time with me. You keep him a bay for a reason so no one would suspect. He was their father. But leads me to one question which is why?" Joanna raged.

"Joanna we are to half of the same whole. We are meant to be together," Cersei said.

"That is horseshit and you know it. Lyarra and Jon are not like you and Jaime. And I am a twin as well. I would never have a relationship with Steffon like the one you have with Jaime. And don't give me that line that Targaryen's had done it for ages. I know that. They were married to each other," Joanna paused for a moment. Cersei looked at her. She could see the lioness lurking in her eyes. But a fury like no other that rage in her eyes. She had to try something to get Joanna not to tell her father or else it would spell the end of them. "Here what we are going to do. You and your children will leave King's Landing. I don't care how or why or even where you go but by the time I return from the Wall be gone. For when I return I will tell him regardless if you there or not. But know this if the worst should befall my father before I return and you put that bastard son of yours on that throne. There not fury to describe what I will do. I'll take back what is mine by force if I have too." Joanna raged.

Joanna rose from her seat heading for the door. Her head held high she paused for only a moment to look back at her mother. Cersei was trying to think of something to make this right. She looked over at her daughter in a way she was proud of the lioness in her but at the same time, it would cost them everything.

"Know this Mother I do love you. And in time I will forgive you for this but I'll never trust you the same way again," Joanna said as she left the room.

Cersei looked back to the flames. She knew the only way to stop what Joanna had promised was to kill her. At the same time, she could kill her black hair lioness. It was hard enough for her to have her black hair lion cub taken from her as a baby. Joanna was traveling to the Wall that gave her time. She just needed to come up with a plan.

Joanna early the next morning Marleina helped her dress in a grey riding gown. She left her hair down. They head down to have breakfast with Aegon. Ned was talking with Robb and Maester Luwin. He noticed that Joanna entered the room. She made her way over to Lord Stark. She dropped to her knees in front of him.

"I am deeply sorry, Lord Stark and I am at your service and my prayers with you and your family," Joanna said.

"Raise, my princess, Maester Luwin tells me that it may have been your quick action that my son lives still," Ned told him.

"He is still alive, gods be good," Joanna said shocked.

"Robb would be so kind to escort Joanna and her party to break their fast," Ned ordered Robb.

Robb linked arms with Joanna.

"Stark my prayers are with you too. I hear that you will lord in father stead while he is in King's Landing" Joanna said.

"It is true Princess, and I'm thankful for your prayers My Princess," Robb told her.

Tyrion awoke in stables surround by dogs.

"Better looking bitches than you're used to, Uncle." Joffery started. Tyrion got up to his feet looked over to Joffery who was with the Hound. "My Mother's been looking for you. We ride for King's Landing today," Joffrey finished.

"Before you go, you will call on Lord and Lady Stark and offer your sympathies," Tyrion told him.

"What good will my sympathies do them?" Joffery asked.

"None," Tyrion told him coming out from stables. Joffery huffed at that. He did not see the need to give them if it did nothing for them. "But it expected of you. Your absence has already been noted," Tyrion told him.

"The boy means nothing to me and I can't stand the wailing of women," Joffery commented

Tyrion slapped him as Joffery was turning back to him. Joffery looked shocked at Tyrion hitting him. His shock was also due to fact that his guard had done nothing about it. He couldn't see Aeron not reacting if someone would dare to strike Joanna. He looked like he was about to say something else.

"One word and I'll hit you again," Tyrion told him.

"I'm telling mother!" Joffery exclaimed at the end of his statement Tyrion slap him on the other cheek.

"Go tell her. But first you will get to Lord and Lady Stark and you will fall on your knees in front of them and tell them how very sorry you are that you are at their service and all your prayers are with them. Do you understand?"Tyrion asked.

"You can't" Joffery started Tyrion slapped him again.

"Do you understand," Tyrion asked.

Joffery stocked off his hand on his face. The Hound looked at Tyrion for a long moment.

"The Prince will remember that, Little Lord," The Hound told him.

"I hope so, if he forgets, be a good dog and remind him," Tyrion said.

Later that day but still before nooning meal, Catelyn was weaving a prayer circle to the faith of the seven. When she noticed Cersei walked into the room. Catelyn rose to her feet.

"Please," Cersei started.

"I would have dressed, Your Grace," Catelyn told her.

"This is your home I'm your guest. Handsome one isn't he," Cersei started. She looked at Bran still unmoving on the bed. Catelyn sat down tear were in her eyes. "I lost my first boy, Joanna's twin, a black-haired beauty. He was a fighter too, tried to beat back the fever that took him. Forgive me, it's that last thing you need to hear right now, Cersei said with tears in her eyes as she remembering Steffon.

"I never knew," Catelyn said slightly shocked.

"It was years ago, Robert was crazed beat his hands' blood on the walls all the things men do to show you how much they care. The boy looked just like him. Such a little thing…"Cersei trailed off.