Joanna could feel herself questioning every thought that she had to the point where it felt like her brain was deteriorating her body. Shamefully all she could think of was Tommen and Marcylla. How they've grown, how this war impacted them, whether they were safe or not. With her carrying Robb's child all she could think about was children. If she didn't think of her brother and sister then her mind would wander off to Sansa, Bran and Rickon and Arya.

Sansa

Poor Sansa. Bayla had told her of the horrors she experienced under the eye of her mother. The beatings and belittling of Joffrey to which she had grown so used to. Joanna sometimes wished she could turn back time to the first day she set foot in Winterfell. She remembers seeing the sweet and innocent face of Sansa.

How excited she was to finally leave her home and welcome the summer of the Capitol. In the back of her mind she wished she could have warned her - make her realise that Kings Landing was far from the fantasy she imagined it was. But Sansa was still naïve and she wanted to keep her safe with her innocence in tact but that would be impossible.

You have to sacrifice naivety to see people's true intentions.

Something that Tyrion taught her one day after she locked herself in his chambers after Joffrey had killed her cat. Jaime had gotten her the cat for her eighth name day but Joffrey too enraged that Joanna was allowed a pet before him had him skinned and had the servants serve it to her at dinner the following night. Joanna kept herself at bay as she stormed to Tyrion's chamber, refusing to give Joffrey the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

She ran to Tyrion because he more than anyone understood what it was like to be mistreated by family. He was the person she'd go to advice for because he understood Joanna more than she realised. It was hard having a sibling that hated you and in return you still managed to care for.

Joanna and Greyind travelled down to the dungeons with a tray of freshly baked bread and vegetables with a side of berry flavoured tarts for the prisoners. In her mind they weren't prisoners or enemies. They were children who had no part in this war. Robb would be furious if he knew she was down there but she didn't care. They were family.

And Greywind would not leave her alone after realising how sick she was. Robb thought it adorable that the direwolf fell asleep at the foot of their bed or outside their chambers and he refused to leave Joanna's side unless she or Robb commanded it.

"Open it." She ordered the guard. He nodded his head and opened the cell to reveal Willem and Martyn Lannister sitting slumped against the dirtied walls. Covered in dirt and dishevelled hair they jumped up to see distant relative.

"Joanna?" Willem asked. She smiled as she set the tray of food down as Martyn and Willem ran into her arms which she welcomed gladly. The boys were no older than Tommen and the Lannister resemblance was uncanny. They looked like her but with short hair.

"I heard the guards threw your food to Greywind last night, so I figured breakfast will suffice. I've even gotten you fresh water. Don't worry it's clean and I'll make sure my advisor Isabella have the servants give your meals accordingly." She leaned back as she handed the two boys the fresh breads. She turned her head as Greywind slowly revealed himself out of the shadows.

They boys jumped back at the sight of the large wolf. Joanna laughed as she petted his head. Greywind calmly sat himself next to Joanna as she nodded her head for the Maester to enter.

The atmosphere stayed quiet as the boys allowed the Maester to tend to their wounds. Joanna could see how Willem kept glancing at the direwolf laying by the side of her feet. Joanna had a stool as the direwolf further laid his head on her lap as her she scratched his head.

"Is it- is it true what they say about Robb Stark?" Willem asked

"Depends - what do they say of my husband back in the South?"

"They say he can turn himself into a wolf at night..." Joanna coughed on her laugh. The very thought of Robb turning into what she considered to be a baby lying in her lap was astounding. To her personally Robb and Greywind looked like they could kill but in truth they're the kindest beings she's ever meet.

"Oh no... not every night." She teased as the boys looked carefully to one another.

"Only on a full moon." she noticed their tense shoulders ease as they realised she was playing fool. Willem had a certain sparkle in his eye that reminded her all too much of Marcylla.

"Joanna, what will happen to us? Are they going to have us killed?" Willem asked. Joanna sighed that there was no way she could create a web of lies around it. They were children but they weren't morons. They knew well enough what would happen.

"Probably." She said saddened. They boys looked scared but their emotions were soon clouded with acceptance. She shook hear head refusing to start crying

"But I am trying to negotiate with the council to have you kept as hostages only. You're children who had no part in what Jaime did to Karstarks son. If I had it my way you would be free."

"He was right. You really are a gentle soul." Martyn noted looking sympathetically to her

"What do you mean?"

"Tommen. He once wrote a letter to me about you." Martyn answered. Joanna felt the lump in her throat , she hated this side of her pregnancy. The need to cry at everything and everyone she came across.

"What did he say?" she asked as she felt her voice softened finding it impossible to keep a sob down.

"That he misses you. That he felt more alone than ever now that you were gone and that he hopes to see you again soon." 

His words proved more than ever that she was away from Tommen too long. In the back of her mind it hurt her heart to know that she gave up everything in her life for Robb and the North and still feel like an outsider. She may have married the kin

After what felt like hours of crying Joanna finally managed to collect herself as she lied in their bed. When Robb found her she was punching her frustrations into the wall again but just as she always has the second she saw his blue eyes she fell apart. Giving no explanation all she wanted was her husband to hold her and so he did. She didn't even care for a bath all she wanted was to rest in his arms.

Joanna breathed in deeply as she felt herself calm down from her vistit to Willem and Martin. What they revealed to her about Tommen was just too much for her heart to come to terms with. As much as she adored seeing Robb reunite with his sister , it shattered her soul to know she might never experience a reunion with her own.

"Do you think you're ready to talk about dove?" he asked. Joanna rose up as Robb's hands softly rubbed her shoulders. Kissing the back of her left one, she turned to look back at him

"Promise you won't be mad at me?" she quietly asked

"Your current state wouldn't maybe have something to do with Martin and Willem would it?" He sceptically asked. Robb wasn't even angry - in fact he was worried. Everyday he could see Joanna losing focus on the war and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get her to talk. She was constantly tired and had a loss of focus that was becoming more and more apparent to everyone.

"What happens after you win this war? We've never discussed what happens afterwards? Will you make a claim to the Throne after Joffrey is killed?" she questioned as she rested her head on his shoulder as Robb's hands fiddled with her nightshift.

"We march back home. I have no interest in the Iron Throne."

"And what of my brother and sister? I understand that my uncles and mother will be executed along with Joffrey but what about Tommen and Marcylla?" She asked defensively turning around to look back at him.

"I suppose they'll be taken hostages if not - wait, why do you ask?" Joanna sighed as she leaned forward, separating her back and his chest.

"You'd have Marcylla and Tommen killed? On what grounds?" her temper flared as she stopped Robb's hand from coming closer to hers. Robb shocked by her actions

"I won't have them killed but - "

"But what?" her tone lowered as her gentle eyes became dark and intense. The spitting of her mother Cersei.

"Well what did you propose happen to them? They are Lannister."

"Lannisters who are as innocent in this war as Arya and Sansa." Joanna argued back as she could feel the tension between them thicken. Joanna scoffed as she moved farther away from Robb.

"Don't bring my sisters into this. You know it's more complicated than that?"

"Why? Tell me why we have Willem and Martin chained and sentenced to death because of what- Karstarks futile need for vengeance? You forget that it was Jaime who killed his son, not them. I will not stand by and see children's blood be spilt and if you think for a moment that I would allow anyone to touch a hair on Tommen and Marcylla's hair - you are gravely mistaken." She spoke with ferocity. This was the side that Theon and Jon teased him about. The beautiful face that spat the words of the queen regent. In that moment Joanna didn't even look like herself anymore. She looked like Cersei which was an appearance Robb was never in favour of seeing. Robb too grew impatient with her attitude as he argued back

"Have you forgotten what the Lannisters have caused my family? My father is dead, Bran was thrown out of a window and sent to death, Sansa is being held hostages by your brother. The Lannisters need to pay for what they've done!" He raised his voice but Joanna stood her ground as she retaliated

"Yes, those were actions of my family but not one, did Tommen and Marcylla commit any of those crimes! Gods - I am sick to death of the constant rantings about my family! You and the rest of your soldiers think anyone with the Lannister name should be executed. There are some, like me who have no care for family titles! All I want if for this world to be safe and just but I will not sacrifice the life of children to get that!"

"Joanna- "

"No, I'm not sacrificing my siblings for the sake of grown men's pleasure in killing children. I won't allow it! After everything I have sacrificed for you the least you can do is spare the only family I'll have left , their lives!" Joanna yelled back.

Robb's heart clenched at the weight of her words. It never dawned on him how much she did give up to be with him. As her husband he wanted to give her everything she desired but as king of the North he needed to stay loyal to his men. For the first time since the war had started Robb had no direction of moving forward. He didn't want to be the reason for Joanna's unhappiness but it wasn't possible to meet her demands. The Northmen wouldn't have it.

there was no compromise