A/N: A familiar face at the start of this one - hope you enjoy!
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Heirs and Graces
Sansa could scarcely believe that it was really happening, that she was actually riding under that gates of King's Landing, that she was finally escaping Joffrey's torment and being allowed to return home to her mother and siblings. She knew she couldn't go back to them right away, she knew that she had to be taken to Casterly Rock first to ensure that Robb gave it back to Tywin Lannister, but at least there she would be with her brother's men. She would be with people that would care for her and look after her and treat her the way that a Lady should be treated, not like Joffrey, they would never treat her the way Joffrey had. Even the Queen hadn't been able to stop him, Lord Tyrion had managed it once but he could not always be there to protect her.
The only people who could protect her were her family and soon she would be back with them. Her heart swelled as she thought of it, Robb had waged a war for her and Arya and even once he had Arya back he had taken Casterly Rock so he could get her back. She would never be able to thank him enough, he had no idea what he had saved her from, and she resolved herself never to tell him.
Elissa's pains had begun just before dawn, she had pulled herself away from Robb's tight embrace and got herself out of bed. The Maester had told her that they would go on for hours and she was best just trying to keep herself calm and relaxed until they were almost constant. They weren't so bad at first, Robb had been alarmed when he'd woken to find her pacing up and down their room but he soon relaxed when she explained it to him. He was much calmer than she had thought he would be, sitting quietly with her and rubbing his hand soothingly across her stomach every time she inhaled sharply when another pain came. It was late afternoon when the pains became sharper and more frequent, finally culminating in a puddle of water on the floor of their rooms. Elissa clutched the post of the bed and breathed deeply as Robb stared up at her in surprise from where he had been reading through his letters. "I think it's time for the Maester," she whispered.
Robb sent his mother in to be with Elissa, knowing he wasn't supposed to be in there with her no matter how much his body and soul were screaming at him to be at her side. Only women and the Maester were supposed to be present during childbirth, especially when it was a high born Lady who was in labour. Had he and Elissa been small folk then he would have defied them all and sat at her side, holding her hand as she brought their baby into the world. As it was he was pacing the hallway outside their rooms, trying to ignore the stab in his heart every time she would scream out in pain.
Sansa felt herself relax more once she was out of sight of King's Landing, the Gold Road was quiet, her and her small guard only passed a few people, all of them averting their eyes. She could understand their fear, she had lived at Joffrey's mercy for long enough to know that sometimes avoiding eye contact was the only way to avoid trouble. Her guard seemed friendly enough, they asked how she was every now and again and chatted happily amongst themselves. They didn't press her to speak and she was glad of it, she just wanted to be back amongst her own people. When dusk began to fall she plucked up the courage to ask them how far it was to Casterly Rock. "It is two days ride my Lady," the reply came, "we will be stopping at an inn in a short while," the guard smiled and she nodded her thanks, trying to return the gesture.
Catelyn mopped a cool sponge across Elissa's brow as her labour went on, it had been long; having started in the small hours and the sun having long since set. Elissa cried out again as Catelyn pushed her hair back from her sweaty forehead. "How much longer?" she moaned.
"I don't know," Catelyn told her honestly, holding her hand tight as another pain came.
"I can't do this," she gasped out.
"Yes you can," Catelyn told her firmly, "you have survived worse than this my girl"
"I'm so tired," Elissa panted and she squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"I know," she said, "I know, but I promise you it will be worth it"
"Your Grace, it's time to push," the Maester interrupted.
"Finally!" Elissa cried out, giving in to the urge she'd been fighting for hours.
"That's it!" the Maester encouraged as she screamed out, clutching Catelyn's hand hard.
"Keep it up Elissa you can do this," Catelyn whispered to her as she pushed down hard again.
"Almost there your Grace," the Maester said and Elissa fought the urge to kick him.
Robb and Arya exchanged a look as Elissa's screams seemed to intensify even more, Arya looked vaguely nauseated and Robb thanked the Gods that he had not been born a girl. He hated that his wife was in there suffering and he could do nothing to help her, even if he was allowed to be with her he knew he'd be able to do nothing to ease her pain. He'd been glad of Arya's company though as he'd paced up and down, only managing to sit still for a few minutes at a time before he'd be back on his feet. They didn't speak much, he was just glad that she was there, her presence distracted him somewhat from his worried thoughts. Robb stopped dead in his pacing when Elissa's screams suddenly stopped, panic began to rise in his chest the longer the silence went on.
Suddenly though a cry pierced the quiet and relief flooded through him, almost collapsing to his knees as he realised that his baby had been born. It was a few more minutes before his mother came out and he spent them pacing again, Arya watching him with a grin on her face. When the door to the room opened he spun around and his mother beamed at him; "you have a son Robb," she told him happily.
He didn't say a word, he didn't know what to say; instead he pulled his mother into a brief embrace before going into the room where Elissa and their son was. She looked up at him as he entered, a bundle of blankets cradled in her arms as she sent him a smile, she looked exhausted but happy and he couldn't help but beam back at her. "Come and meet your son," she said softly and he approached at once, kneeling gently on the edge of the bed so he could peer into the blankets.
Elissa moved some of them aside so he could better see his face and his heart soared as he gazed down as his baby boy. His tiny features all scrunched up in confusion as he blinked up at the world he had just come into, Robb stroked a finger gently down his face and wondered at the softness of his skin. "I can't believe it," he breathed and a tear slid down Elissa's cheek as she watched him gaze down at the baby, "you have given me the most precious thing," he said, turning to her and kissing the tear away from her cheek, resting his hand gently on her neck.
The Maester interrupted them then by clearing his throat and Robb looked up expectantly. "Sorry your Grace," he said apologetically, "you need to drink your Milk of the Poppy"
"Yes," Elissa agreed, nodding wearily, "thank you"
"Will she need anything else?" Robb asked, taking the bottle from the Maester.
"Plenty of bed rest for the next week," he told them.
"I'll make sure of it," Robb promised and the Maester bowed low before taking his leave.
"Here," Elissa said, "hold him for a moment and I can drink it"
"Of course," Robb obliged her, carefully taking his son from her, remembering to support his head as his mother had taught him when Rickon was born. Elissa watched him for a moment, her heart so full of love she thought it would burst, before taking the bottle from the bedside table and drinking it down. Robb sat down next to her after a moment and she leaned back against the pillows, letting a sigh of satisfaction leave her lips. "We need to name him," she breathed out after a moment.
"You need to sleep," he told her quietly, "his name can wait for now"
"I love you," she said sleepily, her eyelids fluttering.
"I love you too," he replied and she smiled slightly before her eyes closed to the world.
When Sansa left the inn early the next morning the inn keeper and his wife and children all came out to bid her farewell and she felt her heart swell as she looked into their smiling faces. They had been so kind to her, treating her as an honoured guest and bowing or curtseying whenever they addressed her. She was not used to such adoration and it overwhelmed her how kind they were being; "thank you all so much for your kindness," she said meaningfully as she was helped up onto her horse.
"It was our pleasure my Lady," the inn keeper said kindly.
"Safe travels to you my Lady, may the Gods watch over you," his wife added and she smiled widely at them, waving goodbye as her and her guard took off along the road again.
"If we ride quickly through the day my Lady we may reach Casterly Rock tonight," one of the men said.
"That would be wonderful," she smiled and he grinned at her, kicking his heels further into his horse.
"The Gods speed us on," another man said as the pace quickened, she almost laughed as they galloped down the road. Soon she would be back where she belonged and she truly could not wait any longer to see friendly faces again.
When Robb stirred in the morning he turned his head to see Elissa propped up against the pillows, their son at her breast. He watched her with a smile on his face for a moment before she noticed his eyes on her and turned to him, a smile on her own lips. "We will have to find a wet nurse for him," he said sleepily.
"You will do no such thing," Elissa said softly but firmly.
"You don't mean to do it all yourself?" he questioned, sitting himself up.
"I mean to look after our son," she said, "I don't want another doing my job"
"What if you need help?" he asked, kissing her temple.
"Then I have you, or your mother, or even Arya, and Sansa when she gets back, but I can feed him myself, I don't want him with a stranger Robb," she said.
"If it's what you want," he said gently.
"It is," she said firmly, turning her face to him so she could peck his lips.
"So what are we going to name him?" he asked after a moment.
"Would you like to name him for your father?" she asked.
"No," he shook his head, "it feels to soon, perhaps when we have another son … it doesn't feel right yet, not when he has not yet been laid to rest"
"Alright," she said softly, "well we are not naming him for my father!"
"No," Robb agreed with a slight laugh, "definitely not"
"He should have a strong Northern name, a name fit for a Stark heir," she smiled.
"Yes," he agreed, kissing her again, "how do you like Torrhen?"
"Torrhen," Elissa repeated, thinking about how it sounded, "Torrhen Stark … I like it"
"Are we agreed?" he asked with a smile.
"Yes," she smiled back, "we're agreed."
Catelyn was put in charge of Torrhen's naming ceremony. She had been slightly surprised that Robb had not named him for Ned but once he'd explained she had understood his reasons perfectly. Torrhen would be blessed by a Septon of the Seven as they were the Gods Elissa worshipped and the Gods that she and Robb had been married under. Catelyn knew though that Robb would have him blessed by the weirwood when they returned home to Winterfell. He still prayed to the old Gods as his father had and as his heir he wanted Torrhen to be able to do the same.
She went up to see Elissa and her grandson later in the afternoon, knocking softly and waiting for Elissa's voice to tell her to come in. "You look well," Catelyn complimented as she entered the room.
"I don't doubt it compared to how you last saw me," she smiled.
"How is the little one?" Catelyn asked.
"Sleeping soundly," Elissa replied and Catelyn bent her head over the cradle to peek at him.
"Such a beautiful little boy," she said softly.
"Robb tells me you are organising his naming ceremony," Elissa said.
"Yes," Catelyn smiled, coming to sit at her side, "it will not be until you are recovered"
"I'm glad," she smiled back, "how is everyone?"
"Roslin and Ana are going to come and see you later, Ana has managed a walk out in the gardens this morning," Catelyn told her.
"That's wonderful," Elissa breathed.
"The Blackfish has gone on a celebratory hunt," Catelyn continued, "and Edmure sends his regards, in truth I think he is rather scared of babies," she laughed.
"He will have to get over that now he is married," Elissa smiled, "he will be a father himself soon enough if Ros gets her way"
"I think that Roslin is most likely to get her way," Catelyn said and they both laughed lightly.
It had been dark for a good few hours when Sansa and her guard arrived at Casterly Rock, a group of men rode out to meet them before they could reach the gates. The man at the helm of the welcoming party looked vaguely familiar to Sansa and she urged her horse forwards so she was at the helm of her own party. "Lady Sansa!" the Smalljon greeted and she smiled in recognition.
"My Lord," she said in return.
"We did not expect you so soon," he said.
"I couldn't wait," she replied and he smiled widely at her.
"We will take the Lady from here, you can return to your Masters," the Smalljon addressed her guard.
"Will you not even offer us guest rights for the night?" one of the men asked.
"No Lannister's go under the gates while we still occupy the Rock," the Smalljon said, "King's orders, as you can imagine, he is rather suspicious of guest rights after the Twins"
"There is an inn in Lanisport," another of the guard spoke up.
"Very well," the first man said, "take care my Lady"
"Thank you for bringing me safely," she managed.
"Just our duty," he said before wheeling his horse around, the others following suit around him.
"Come my Lady, you must be tired and hungry," the Smalljon smiled.
Robb woke in the night and found he was alone in bed, he sat up sharply and saw Elissa sat by the window, rocking Torrhen in her arms and singing to him softly. His lips curved up into a smile and he lay contentedly back down against the pillows and listened to her sweet voice as she sang their son to sleep. Her shadow crossed the room then and he heard her tucking the baby back up in his cradle before she padded lightly back to bed.
"Did I wake you?" she asked softly as she climbed in beside him, snuggling down against his chest.
"I don't know," he chuckled lightly and she sighed in contentment as his arms wrapped around her.
"He was just hungry," she yawned and he kissed the top of her head.
"You're wonderful with him," Robb complimented and she smiled widely.
"Thank you," she breathed and he tightened his arms further around her, smiling in satisfaction when he heard her breaths even out, knowing she had fallen back to sleep.
He stayed awake a while longer, he had not been completely truthful with Elissa, it had been dreams that woke him again. Everything just seemed to be going too right for him at the moment, he just couldn't shake the feeling that something awful was about to happen.
When Sansa woke the next morning the sun was high in the sky and she had no doubt that she had missed breakfast. She hoped that the men hadn't waited for her and had eaten their fill in her absence, she didn't want her presence to affect the way they had been doing things before. After she had hurriedly dressed she made her way down the steps and smiled when she saw the Smalljon walking in from the yard, he was the only familiar face she had seen so far.
"Lady Sansa, are you well rested?" he asked as she descended the last few steps.
"Yes, very well indeed my Lord," she assured him.
"You must be hungry, come, we can have lunch, I have just had word from Riverrun," he said.
"What word have you had?" she asked as they seated themselves in the quiet dining hall.
"The Queen has had a healthy son," he told her and she gasped.
"Robb's wife?! Oh how wonderful!" she exclaimed.
"Yes indeed, a Prince of Winterfell, Torrhen they have named him," he elaborated.
"Robb must be so pleased," she smiled.
"He will be even more pleased when you are safe back with him," the Smalljon grinned.
"What is his wife like?" she asked, curious about the woman she had never met.
"The Queen is most gracious and kind," the Smalljon told her.
"And beautiful?" she questioned.
"Yes very beautiful, she is small and fair," he continued.
"I cannot wait to meet her … and the baby!" she said excitedly.
"It will not be long now my Lady, soon you will be home," the Smalljon promised.
A/N: Baby Stark has arrived! YAY! Only now he has a name and I must cease calling him Baby Stark :(
Hope you all liked it anyway, and hope you like Sansa as a new addition - more from her next time!
Let me know what you thought anyway, I'll be updating again tomorrow!
:)