Kapitel 32: Chapter 32

Joanna was still shaking. Arya and prince Gendry hurried ahead of her. "Joanna, you have to move. We have to get to the ship before daylight." Arya grabbed the sleeve of her dress and tugged hard.

She stopped. "Why? We should go back to the Red Keep. Father is in the dungeons and Tommen. Where is Tommen?" Arya was exasperated. She could tell. Her little sister remained quiet. It was the prince who spoke. "Lady Joanna, we have to be in that ship. It will take us to Dragon Stone, where my uncle is."

Joanna walked again if a bit slower than before. Tommen, she could not but think back to two weeks ago when he pulled her out of princess Cassana's quarters. It was the middle of the day.

"We have to leave now." Joanna looked puzzled. Tommen hurried her along to an empty room, down the stairs to the servants' areas.

"What are you saying Tommen? Have you gone insane? The king is dead. We belong here with father. Arya is to be queen." Joanna said as her brother shoved a rough-spun servant dress

"We can't leave. Father is the Hand regent until Gendry comes of age." Joanna sputtered as Tommen changed his clean clothes into servant's clothes too.

"Have you gone completely insane?" She squeaked when her twin tried to undo her dress.

She had never seen Tommen so hurried. "You will change your dress now. We have to leave; Arya and Gendry have left the castle. Meryn Trant tried to kill the crown prince. They have accused Father of treason. Arya killed a man. We have to go." Tommen snapped. Joanna changed into the dress and followed her twin through the servant's exits.

She frowned, and tried to keep up with Arya and Gendry. The prince had led them through Flea Bottom for the past three days. She had not seen Tommen in three days. The queen had imprisoned him. That woman accused her father of treason and the prince's murder. Joanna had wanted to go back to the Red Keep and have Gendry in court. Let them know their prince was well and alive, and then father could serve as Lord Regent until Gendry became of age. Tommen shook his head at once when they were far away from the Red Keep and close to the Blackwater port.

"The kingsguard tried to kill Gendry. We cannot go back. I promised father I would keep you safe." Her twin brother said firmly and tried to secure their passage in one of the ships sailing North.

Joanna remembered that day bitterly. All the ships had been ordered to remain in the city. The goldcloaks were looking for them. They were accused of treason too. Joanna shuddered. The men in the port had looked at Arya and her with disgusting eyes and made gestures at them. She knew her sister had been scared too, even if she did not admit it.

Tommen cursed when the captain ship refused them entry. "There is no room boy. None of them are going North."

The prince spoke then, "South, Dragon Stone." The captain nodded. "Aye, but not today maybe tomorrow or next week until the Lords decide." The man said with an ill-tempered tone. They had hidden then inside Flea Bottom, whatever little romantic affection she held for the prince had disappeared since then. He was callous, not gentle at all. He was rude, even more than Arya and even though Joanna understood his preoccupation with staying hidden. She was not used to sleeping on floors, not bathing and smelling foul things whenever they crossed the busy streets in the city. She was tired and scared beyond belief. Tommen had gone back, she knew it. Arya tried to lie to her and tell her he had gone on his own to meet with Robb and uncle Jaime on the field. Joanna knew otherwise. She loved all her siblings but Tommen was her oldest friend. He always protected, just as Robb and Jon did but Tommen, he was so kind and did not think she was just as silly pretty girl like Robb and even Jon though she was. Her twin brother listened to her and did not think her useless. He was gone, to rescue father no doubt. They should go back, and help them, not run away like Arya and the prince wanted. It was too late now. The prince grabbed her arm and yanked her forward to the ship that would take then to Stannis Baratheon.

She tried once more. This time she pleaded to Arya. "They have our father and Tommen. Arya, we have to go back. We can talk to the other lords and they will understand. Gendry is alive, he is the rightful king of Westeros."

Arya grabbed her hands. "Tommen will free father. He promised. We can't go back. They will kill us. You did not see them Joanna. They killed Septa Mordane, all the guards and even Jeyne." Joanna gasped. "Tommen agreed, this is our best option. Uncle Stannis will know what to do." Gendry assured them and looked ahead to the sea. They had a room they would share for the two weeks they were to stay at sea. They had one bed only, Arya and Joanna slept on it while the prince slept by the door, to make sure no one entered their room. She was miserable for the whole trip even more when they disembarked in Dragon Stone. The lord hand was dead; killed by a mob. Queen Catelyn accused him of the king and prince's murder. The mob at Baelor's Sept had been enraged and claimed blood. He had been killed for conspiring against the crown, aiding in the murders of Jon Arryn and Robin Arryn. Lies, all lies.

Joanna cried while Arya wanted to go back to the ship and go back to hail fire to King's Landing. Gendry stopped her and quieted her with harsh words. "Your father is dead, mine is too. We have to get to uncle Stannis. We'll take the city back; my uncle and I. M'lady I promise you their heads but we have to reach Dragonstone first. Arya nodded. "I will be there too. Promise me Gendry." Arya intoned.

"You will." He replied, and there was fire in his eyes. Joanna felt uncomfortable once again and spoke up. "We should get going now." She felt hallow, empty once again. Father was gone and there was no word of Tommen. She wanted nothing more than to be inside Winterfell, she would gladly give anything to be back North.

They walked a day and a half until they reached an empty hut by the road that would lead them to the castle the prince spoke so much of. She did not want to speak. Arya was full of promises of death and revenge. Gendry only spoke about Dragonstone. Joanna could not think about anything but father's smile and his eyes. He was gone. He would never call her kitten again. Arya blamed the queen, and the kingsguard. Joanna could not help but blame the queen too. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

She woke up to someone yelling. Joanna awakened and saw fire around her. Gendry fought two men while Arya fought with another man. Two other men came her way. Joanna retreated and yelled when one of them held her arms. The other slashed her dress and touched her breasts. She kicked and pleaded but the man who held her wrists and the other above her did not listen. She cried and begged. The girl shut her eyes and prayed to the Seven. She felt a man grab her intimately and became rigid. She cried and then there was no force anymore. Joanna opened her eyes. Arya had blood on her hands.

The man who held her wrists yelled, "you little cunt." But then he was silent. Gendry slashed his throat.

"Are you hurt?" Arya asked fearfully. Joanna shook her head and hugged her hard. "We have to go now." Gendry said and pulled them to the road. Joanna was too shaken to protest or notice her dress was in rags and or that her feet were bleeding. She did not notice her bruised face or that prince Gendry was bleeding too.

Joanna and her companions saw the gates after three hours of walking.