Chapter 37
Nysa woke up feeling a sharp pain, her hand immediately flew to her stomach as she rolled to her side. "Is it time, little one," she whispered before groaning into the pillow. She felt like she couldn't move that way and tried to get to the other side. Another sharp pain caused her to gasp. "Robb," she called for him before remembering that he wasn't there. He had left days ago. Her hands gripped onto the furs and sheets around her trying to pull her body to the side.
She couldn't move any further without causing her pain. And she didn't want to upset the baby. If it was time for him to come, then it was time for him to come.
Looking up at the ceiling, she began to cry as she felt the pain pierce and tickle her body. The sensation wasn't welcomed, and her body was starting to heat up at an alarming rate. Nysa shook her head - as if that would stop the heat. She didn't want to burn her baby. Her hand flew to her stomach. Seven hells, what if she burnt her baby? "Robb!" She screamed for him.
"My Queen?" Lyra and Corgan entered her room, swords drawn until they noticed she was in distress.
Lyra was at her side at once, touching her stomach. "It's time," she stated more than questioned and looked up at her friend.
Nysa felt the pain again and closed her eyes as her body reacted by tightening. She tried to breathe out, but nothing flowed. Once the pain subsided, she collapsed back on the bed and looked towards Lyra. It certainly was time. She was frightened about everything - losing the baby, burning the baby, burning somebody in the room. All these thoughts entered her mind. She reached out for Lyra, but the young woman stepped back and glanced towards the sheets.
"I need to get the Maester and Lady Stark," Lyra said before hurrying out of the room.
"Lyra," Nysa whispered but she was already gone.
Nysa released a long and loud scream as Corgan's voice was heard by her bedside. "Breathe, my Queen," he assured her. "Breathe."
She remembered being afraid when she had learned she was with child. And the conversation came to the front of her mind.
"Is everything alright, sister?" Jory came to sit down at her side as she stared out the window over the river. "This should be a time of rejoicing and yet, you appear to be saddened."
"I'm just thinking, that's all."
"Of the King," Jory asked as he sighed. "He'll be happy with this news, I assure you. As for the two of you, you often argued in Winterfell as children," he chuckled. "All was forgiven in time."
She shook her head and turned towards her brother. "This argument is different. So much has changed between us. I," Nysa paused and Jory reached out to take her hand in his, like he often did when she was a child. "I still love Torrhen. I think of him often. And now I'm a Queen - a Queen, brother," she looked at him with confusion and fright, but he gave her an understanding nod. "I never thought that I would someday become a Queen, a Lady - maybe, but not a Queen. And I'm with child! And that child's father, he hates me, Jory! I know he does."
"He doesn't..."
"And I'm going to die!"
She was hardly making sense, she knew it. But there was no one she could be completely honest with at the moment. Harrion wasn't speaking with her. Lord Karstark often looked at her with disdain. He had never done that before. Perhaps he had been wary of her presence in Karhold because she was a bastard and Torrhen was close to her. But this, this was different. And her relationship with House Frey was strained. Most of them stayed because of Ser Stevron. She knew that a lot of her support came from him. And Lady Catelyn, gods, she wished things were better with her.
"What do you mean, you're going to die," Jory questioned her.
"My mother died giving birth to me. Then there is our Uncle. He only has Beth. And our brothers are no longer alive," she replied looking up at him, tears staining her face as Jory reached out to touch her cheek. "Both sides of my kin - mother and father," she began, "there isn't a good chance of the babe surviving, neither would I survive."
Jory sighed, and it was obvious now that he could determine what it was that she was stressed about. He had told her that his mother and brothers had died. And of course, no doubt the thought of their Uncle, Ser Rodrik's children and wives were at the forefront of her mind. Little did she know that she had not a drop of Cassel blood in her. She didn't need to worry on that matter, but he would allow Lady Catelyn to inform her of that.
"Sister," Jory touched her shoulder. "Listen to me," he urged kindly. "Nothing will happen to you."
"You don't know that Jory," she wept, feeling at a loss. She didn't want the babe to die. It would look horrible on her part and her relationship with her husband was tense as it was. If she couldn't produce an heir, she knew that he would take another. She wouldn't be surprised if he had already. "I don't want to lose my baby!"
"You're not going to." Jory wiped her face and leaned in to press a kiss upon her brow. "You're strong and brave, Nysa. The Gods will protect you. I'll pray in the godswood and even in the Sept," he said causing her to smile and shake her head.
She knew that he was always torn about following the Seven. Their father and their Uncle had changed their faith - become knights, the few in the North. But Nysa knew that Jory's mother kept the old ways. The fact that he was willing to pray in the Sept for her, meant a lot.
Jory leaned back and gave her a small smile. "All will be alright, little sister," he said as though it were true.
However, now there were no words to comfort her. There was no Jory, no Robb, not even Jon was here. She knew if at least one of them were present, she'd feel just a tad bit better. But the fear was there - fear for her life, fear for her baby's life.
Feeling Corgan's presence nearby, she grabbed his hand as he shook with fear equal as hers. She could feel it, sense it. They were both scared. "Don't leave me alone," she cried, feeling her face become warm with tears as her body tightened once more.
"I will stay until the Maester tells me to leave, my Queen," he replied - though, he looked ready to run from the room.
Gods, how she wished Jory was here. Seven hells, she wanted Robb to be here more than anyone else.
Ramsay slammed the letter down on the table, causing a few of his father's guards to jump. "And what of Winterfell," he questioned looking at the four men standing before him. "Surely, we should be able to..."
"You still want to take it," one of them questioned in shock. "Jon Snow has been rallying the Northerners to his side. They'll fight with him, for him," the guard emphasized. "And the King," he shook his head, "the King of the North is still alive."
"They say his Queen burned House Frey, burned the men that were with your father," another guard decided to be brave and stepped forward. "There's no telling what..."
Ramsay stood up so quickly that none of them were able to discern what he had done. He had taken a dagger out and stabbed the nearest guard to him. With wild and crazy eyes, he withdrew the dagger before plunging it back into the man's midsection several times. When he considered himself to be finished, he stumbled back as the guard fell. Gesturing for one of the maidens from Winterfell to step closer, he took the dagger and wiped it on her dress.
Her eyes brimmed with sadness and disgust. The second Ramsay looked up at her face, she blinked away the expression before he could discipline her further for it. "What is your name again," he asked her.
"Palla," she replied.
He leaned in closer, a twisted smile on his face as she turned away from him.
"My Lord," she whispered as he nodded in satisfaction.
Ramsay enjoyed lording his position over others. He was the Lord of the Dreadfort in his father's place. "Clean up this mess," he ordered her.
Her eyes moved to glance at Theon - beaten, limping and cradling his hand close to his body. She narrowed her eyes at him before looking back down at the body of the fallen Bolton guard. This was all Theon's fault. He had let the door open to the Ironborn to come in and take her home, have their way with her and then he'd allow House Bolton to take them.
"Answer me something, Palla," Ramsay said as he sat back in his seat. Palla knelt to start moving the body. She knew that no one was going to help her - not unless they wanted something from her or if Ramsay was no longer present. "Do you wish you were in Winterfell?"
She wasn't going to answer so she simply just shook her head. It must have satisfied Ramsay because he turned away from her and back to the guards who still stood in attention. Everyone feared him. He picked up the knife that he had used to kill his guard and twirled it around, playfully and maliciously.
"Well, I wish I were in Winterfell. And once they see what I'm capable of, they'll give it to me." One of the guards went to step forward but took three steps back as Ramsay's chair was pushed back. Palla turned to see that he had stood up. "The King of the North is not here. His Queen is not here. And Jon Snow," he chuckled deeply and darkly, that it made Palla's skin crawl. "Jon Snow won't know what hit him. We've taken Winterfell before," Ramsay glanced at Theon who turned his head away. "We'll do it again."
Robb stayed mounted upon his horse as the men entered Casterly Rock. They were going to give a signal that everything was in the clear and then Robb's group would march on through the side gate. He noticed Grey Wind in the front of him, prowling back and forth - he was ready and waiting for the signal, too. It seemed like more than just the men were itching for a good fight.
He on the other hand, was praying that he was back at the Twins - not because he was unsure of the battle. Mostly it was because his wife, his Queen, his Nysa was there. The first time he separated from her, he nearly lost her. The second time, they were not on speaking terms. The third time, he was frightened for her life - knew that she had put herself in danger. This time - he snorted as he tried to keep his nerves down - she was having his child. The heir of the North was being born and he wasn't there for it. Like father, like son - he thought.
He'd take them back home, all of them. Jon had secured the North for him - something he knew he could never repay. Jon still had not written back regarding the legitimization. Both Nysa and his mother were speaking about proclaiming Jon as a Targaryen. He wasn't so sure if Jon would agree to that. Nysa would press the issue, he was certain. But Jon could be just as headstrong as her. Regardless, there was truly no way of thanking Jon for doing what he did - doing what House Bolton had failed to do and ultimately had betrayed him for. Jon was loyal. And loyalty should be rewarded.
"It's quiet," Harrion stood beside him.
"House Frey will pull through," Robb assured Harrion. "I know that you still don't trust them," he looked at the new Lord of Karhold before glancing towards a few men behind them. There was Ser Perwyn and a few others belonging to House Frey.
While majority of the men from the Riverlands had returned to their castles or gone to Riverrun to fortify any attack from the South, House Blackwood had kept their men at the Twins - Lord Tytos had grown rather fond of the Queen and did all that he could to ensure her safety. Robb knew it was because she had somehow brought peace between House Blackwood and House Bracken. But rumor had it that there was a daughter of House Blackwood who had wed a Targaryen Prince not too long ago. Lord Tytos may have felt as though Nysa were his kin.
Men from House Mallister fighting with Ser Patrek inside Casterly Rock. There were also men from Dorne - House Allyrion, House Qorgyle and House Gargalen - who were fighting alongside Robb and the men in Casterly Rock. The rest of the men brought from Dorne were assigned to protect the Twins and the Queen inside it. Another situation that Robb knew unsettled the Northerners.
"It's hard for me to trust anyone South of the Neck," Harrion stated before smiling, "especially anyone beyond King's Landing," causing Robb to laugh.
"I take it you've voiced your concerns to the Queen," he chuckled as Harrion nodded.
"She's very forgiving, very merciful. I warned her that it could be her downfall," Harrion said as Robb nodded thoughtfully. "She wants to make peace with Houses that not only sought out to destroy House Stark but to also destroy House Targaryen."
"And you," Robb looked at him.
"I'd rather kill them all," Harrion confessed, "starting with the one she calls 'Amie'."
Robb thought on that as well. He remembered his mother had stated that she believed the only way to get the girls back was through the Kingslayer. She had Tyrion Lannister in her grasp and after he was gone, she received her husband's bones. They had returned him to Winterfell and Jon should have been receiving him soon. The more he spoke to Nysa about his mother's actions, the more he could see that she believed returning the Kingslayer, would bring Sansa and Arya back to her as well.
However, that did not go as planned. And should Robb capture Casterly Rock and have the Lannisters return Sansa to him, then there was really no need to keep the Kingslayer alive after that. He looked at Harrion - House Karstark had suffered many losses as is. He would grant Harrion the privilege of ending the Kingslayer's life.
"Do what you feel is best. As for the Kingslayer," Nysa looked at him. "I'm too emotional now to decide," she shook her head, turning to face Robb. And he could see it in her eyes - the conflict brewing inside. "He's killed many, I understand. But these memories aren't helping me decide his punishment."
"Would you be upset with me if I decide to execute him," Robb questioned.
Nysa shook her head before glancing once more at the Kingslayer. "A Lannister isn't the only one who pays his debt," she said loudly as she watched the Kingslayer's face fall slightly.
"My King," Ser Perwyn called out, pulling him from his thoughts.
The men beside him looked up and saw it - the signal that the outer courtyards had been emptied. Robb withdrew his sword and glanced towards his men, all of them willing and battle-hungry. Grey Wind snarled, barring his teeth in anticipation.
"For the North! For the Riverlands," he shouted as the men around him began to cheer.
His horse led the charge, Grey Wind sprinting towards the gate of Casterly Rock. For my father, Robb thought in his mind just as they entered the gates.
"Where is the Maester," Catelyn shouted, looking at Marissa Cassel who had come back without anyone by her side.
"He cannot be found, my Lady," Marissa replied coming to Nysa's side.
Nysa looked up at her mother-by-law, tears streaming down her face and it broke Catelyn's heart. Before anyone could say anything, Nysa inhaled a sharp breath before sitting up and screaming. The babe would make its appearance soon. There was no doubt about that. Nysa collapsed back on the bed, panting. When Lyra Mormont had brought Catelyn back to Nysa's room, Catelyn had ordered Corgan Blackwood out and placed him along with Smalljon Umber at the door as guards.
Lyra Mormont and Marissa were sent to find the Maester.
"What are we to do," Marissa asked Catelyn as she thought about it.
Before she could reply, the doors opened. Smalljon stepped back out and allowed Maege Mormont to enter. He looked at Nysa with concern before glancing towards Catelyn. She gave him a nod, attempting to convey her thanks and her faith that everything would be alright.
"Listen to me, my Queen," Maege went to the other side of Nysa as Marissa made way for her. "Lady Catelyn and I are going to help you deliver your child."
"The Maester," Nysa breathed out, clutching onto Catelyn's hand.
"Marissa," Catelyn called out to the young woman who came to her side quickly with a wet cloth and a bowl of clean water.
Marissa pressed the cloth to Nysa's forehead in an attempt to keep her cool. She was already heating up and that wasn't good. Catelyn prayed that no flame would appear from her daughter-by-law. Lady Tyta entered then with another maiden from House Blackwood - Corgan and Roland's sister, Sheira. Sheira rushed over with more cloths. Maege touched the young Queen's stomach before her hand traveled lower.
Nysa hissed as Maege examined her before nodding towards Sheira. "My Queen..."
"Where is the Maester," Nysa cried out desperately.
"You do not need him," Maege assured her.
Nysa turned towards Catelyn, her face scared and confused. "I don't want to die, mother," she pleaded. Catelyn smoothed her hand over Nysa's forehead and leaned down to press a kiss into her hair. "Please, don't let me die!"
"Everything will be alright," she assured her.
"The babe?"
"I have brought five fighting bear cubs into this world," Maege told her as Nysa continued to breathe heavily. "Lady Catelyn has borne five healthy wolf pups. Have faith in us, northern dragon," she said as Marissa and Sheira undressed Nysa further, wiping her down and preparing everything for the babe's arrival.
Catelyn offered up a prayer to the Mother and to the Maiden as Nysa released another scream, her eyes shut tight as her hold on Catelyn and Maege tightened.
"The time has come, my daughter," Catelyn leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
Robb rode through the castle, a smile etched upon his face. He had claimed Casterly Rock. That battle had barely lasted a night. By morning he knew that Stark banners would be hanging on the gates. A few soldiers lay dead - a small price to pay. But as he glanced around, he noticed that majority of his army were still unscathed. The men were rejoicing, and they had every right to. No one had ever taken Casterly Rock in such a short amount of time.
The fire that was burning on the walls and through the courtyard, Robb motioned for Jory to extinguish them. He didn't want to burn the castle down. It was certainly a magnificent sight to behold.
A scream to his side caught his attention and he dismounted his horse, patting his neck before one of the guards came to take him for some water. A few of the Frey guards were tossing a young maiden between themselves. He had turned a blind eye to it before. Women were often taken as the spoils of war. But he had been around Nysa enough to know that she would have burned the Frey men alive if she had seen such a thing.
"Stop," Robb demanded as the maiden was dropped to the ground. Jory and a few others came to his side and he gestured for them to go and search some of the hidden rooms. More women and children were found. One look at a woman carrying a crying babe made him think of Nysa and his child - his heart softening for them. Is this how Nysa felt? "No one is to harm the women and children."
One of the Frey men sneered. "My King..."
"I gave you a command, Ser," he looked the knight in the eye before he and his three men left. Robb held out a hand for one of the young girls to step forward. "It's okay. No one is going to hurt you."
The little girl looked back at the older ones before taking his hand.
"What is your name," he asked.
"Lottie, my Lord," she said in a quiet tone as one of the women mumbled something in the back. The little girl looked up frighteningly at him. "Forgive me," she shook her head and pulled her hand back, "my King."
Whoever had spoken up must have pointed out who he was. He glanced around at the women and children, all of them wary and frightened. He wondered briefly if that was how his sisters felt, how Nysa felt. Nysa had communicated with him that Sansa had seen the beheading, Cayn had hidden Arya away so that she wouldn't see. He wasn't there, and the grief had been overwhelming, consuming. He would not subject the children of Casterly Rock to such a thing.
"This is Lord Jory Cassel," Robb gestured to Jory as he stepped forward and nodded to the young girl. "He is the Queen's sister."
"The Queen is a dragon, is she not," someone questioned from the group.
"We've heard the rumors, your Grace, of the Wolf Queen who breathes fire," another stated as Robb cleared his throat. He knew that rumors would spread, but that was a new title.
"They say that she burnt children," Lottie spoke up.
"She would never do such a thing," Robb knelt again. He gave her a kind smile - at least he prayed that it was kind. "My wife cares for young children."
"Even those from Casterly Rock?"
Robb nodded and called Jory forth again. Jory gave him a small leather pouch. Nysa had stated that if he had come across the owner of the pouch, he was to spare that man's life. He had hoped with everything in him that none of his men had grown over zealous. The girl's eyes widened and the group behind her began to whisper among themselves. It had a House Lannister sigil on it, so there was no doubt that it would garner some attention.
"My wife saved the man who owned this," Robb explained as he shook the bag - the coins still inside.
"You're a liar," one of the women stepped forth and snatched the bag. Robb stood up as one of the older women touched her arm and tried to usher her back.
She dropped the pouch and tried to hide again but Robb wasn't having any of that. "And why is that?"
The younger women held some sort of authority among the others - that much was obvious. But he couldn't discern what it was. They obviously didn't want her to get in trouble.
"Forgive her, your Grace, she's just shocked because of the attack," the older woman stated, pulling her back.
"She did not mean to call your Queen a liar," another responded.
Robb sighed and went to grab the pouch. It was obvious that they still wouldn't trust him. "I've commanded my men that they shouldn't touch any of you. You're free to roam around the castle, just don't stir up too much trouble," he commanded before handing the pouch to Lottie. "My wife saved a Lannister, in return that Lannister paid her. She just wanted to let those at Casterly Rock know that she hasn't forgotten the debts that were paid to her and," he looked at the women who had expressed her frustration earlier, "and the ones that she owes."
Robb turned and left Jory in charge of the women and children. He knew he could trust Jory to handle matters.
Nysa's head whipped back and forth as the two women at her side soothed and encouraged her. She tried her best to draw strength from them both - especially Lady Catelyn. But her mind kept wandering.
She had been in the room with Lady Catelyn when Arya and Rickon were born. She had been in the room with Lady Karstark, Lady Glover and Lady Umber. This wasn't anything new to her. However, she had seen the stress that a woman would undergo, the stress that Lady Karstark and Lady Glover had experienced. Alys and Gawen had almost died because of it.
"The babe," Nysa cried looking back up at Lady Catelyn.
"Hush," she soothed her. "All will be alright," she stated calmly.
Nysa would have believed her; however, she didn't miss the look of panic Lady Catelyn sent towards Lady Maege.
Robb stood at the head of the hall as several Lannister knights were brought to him. All of them bound, looking defeated and embarrassed. A few of the northerners jeered and shouted insults as they came to stand in front of him. He held up his hand to silence them and noticed that Ser Perwyn and a few others had their hands tight on the hilt of their swords. They were waiting an execution call.
"Do you bend the knee," Robb questioned.
Grudgingly most of them knelt before him. One man stood and continued to remain standing. Robb studied him, noting that he could have passed for the Kingslayer - all blond hair and arrogant smiles. He lifted his chin in the air. "My name is Ser Daron Lannister. I am the son of Jason Lannister, brother to Ser Stafford Lannister. And I will never bend the knee to the men who raped and murdered both my wife and daughter."
A few of the men continued to shout insults at him. But Robb could see the conviction in his eyes, the bold declaration of loyalty to his House and to his kin. This man wasn't going to submit to the North because the North had done something wrong, something unjust. It wasn't the way his father had taught him. However, he remembered something that his father had said.
"The North is untamed and wild like the wind," his father touched his shoulder. "It moves here and there," he watched as his father's outstretched arm moved back and forth. "You can never catch it, never hold it."
"But you rule over the North," Robb shook his head, still not able to grasp what his father was telling him.
Lord Eddard Stark chuckled and patted Robb's shoulder again. "My son, I am their liege Lord - this much is true. But in time you will know that no one rules over the North. The North rules itself."
"Do you know the man," Robb questioned as a few heads turned his way.
He caught the shocked expressions on a few of them, all confused and angered at his question. He knew that they did not care if a few Lannisters were dead. Hearing this knight's story, this knight's sense of justice made him think of his father, his mother, his own wife and his own child. Lord Eddard Stark would do anything for his children - even go against Joffrey and all of Westeros to be just. He had kept Nysa - a Targaryen Princess - safe when he knew that his best friend wanted her and all of House Targaryen dead. Lady Catelyn Stark had fought a man with a dagger to keep Bran safe, she stayed by his side, prayed to the gods to keep him. She had raised Jon - allowed everyone to believe that he was her husband's bastard, had suffered shame and ridicule - because of her love for her husband. Nysa burned an entire castle to protect them. You would do anything for those you love. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized where Nysa's mercy came from.
"I do not," Ser Daron answered him. "But if my son still lives," he glanced around the room to see it empty of children, "my son could tell you what this man looked like."
Robb nodded as a few people murmured.
"My King," Ser Perwyn stepped forward again. "What is it that you wish for us to do with them?"
Robb thought a moment before walking towards the Lannister knight. "My wife offered mercy to those in House Frey - even after they betrayed me. I offer mercy to House Lannister on this day. I know my word means nothing to you, Ser," he stared at the knight. "But I will find the man who killed your wife and daughter. Your lives will be spared - don't make me regret that," he took a step back. "However," he nodded towards Ser Perwyn, "you still didn't bend the knee and therefore, you'll be imprisoned."
Leila stood there, slightly irritated that she was being brought before the King. She hoped that he wasn't planning on making her his whore. If he was, then he would be sorely mistaken. She wasn't someone that would be easily taken.
The guard, knight - or whomever he was - that escorted her to the room was kind enough, she supposed. But other than that, she wasn't going to relent and show respect or cordiality to her captors. She was a lion! Not that they needed to know any of that.
She had heard that her brother and cousins were imprisoned and now they were looking for her nephew, Darion. She would never tell them where he was - never tell them who she was. If they found out she was a Lannister, that wouldn't protect her. Leila didn't care if the Queen of the North was keeping Lannister boys safe. Good on her, may the gods bless her - Leila thought indignantly. But she wasn't going to be cuddled, like some child. No, she was not. She was a lion!
"Ah, Jory," the King of the North called for the man to bring her forward.
He - Jory - simply held his arm up. She had shouted at him earlier for touching her arm. And he immediately apologized for the gesture. Of course, he looked sincere. But still, she thought holding up her chin as she entered the room - she wasn't going to trust any man from the North.
"My Lady," the King gestured to a chair.
"I am no Lady," she quickly lied, refusing to sit.
King Robb sighed and nodded before stepping towards the bed. Leila moved and noticed that a man - a northern man - lay injured. "This is Lord Harrion Karstark. He is a dear friend of mine and the Queen's. He is almost like a brother to her," he explained, glancing at her before looking back. "He was injured by one of your guards here."
"There were many northerners injured by the guards here," she replied hotly.
He chuckled and glanced at her.
"Your Grace," she finished and looked away in a huff.
"You are right, there were," he acknowledged before his attention moved back to the bed. "On both sides," he added which made her narrow her eyes at him. She noticed his lips twitched into a smile. He was obviously attempting to goad her. Well, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. Raising her chin again, Leila looked at the man lying in the bed. "I am told that Ser Daron Lannister will not bend the knee until I've brought his wife's murderer to justice. And truth be told, I cannot do so until the man is pointed out to me."
"You would really pass judgement against one of your Lords?"
"My wife most certainly would," the King faced her, determination and truth upon his face. She had never met someone who made decisions based upon their wife's opinion. Not even Cersei could control her husband or her son - at least that's what her cousins were speaking of the day before the attack at sup. "This Lord has lost much. His father murdered by a traitorous Lord, his brothers both killed. His home and castle were under attack by the Ironborn. I don't think I could return to my wife or to the North, knowing that House Karstark has been completely eliminated." She noticed his features softened. "Will you help me, make him better?"
Nysa offered her mother-by-law a smile as the babe - cleaned, wrinkled and crying - was brought towards her. Though it was still too soon, they were saying that the babe favored Nysa in coloring. She smiled as she reached out for the small bundle, squirming and kicking.
"It's so tiny," Nysa said as Lady Catelyn and Lady Maege helped her to sit up. Marissa and Sheira placed more cushions behind her so that she was propped up.
Her body ached, showing signs of exhaustion but she pushed that away as she touched her child's little nose. The little hands with its little fingers moved and flexed. Being confined for such a long time, Nysa remembered that some babies often enjoyed being bundled tightly while others - like Arya - were restless, continuing to kick and squirm, enjoying their discovery of new movement.
Holding the baby to her body, feeling the skin against hers was an overwhelming feeling. She had brought life into this world, she had borne a child. She knew that it was possible, but to be a part of it. It was moving and exhilarating - and frightening, if she had to admit - all at the same time.
"Oh, have you ever seen anything so precious," Nysa commented as Lady Catelyn laughed lightly.
"They're all like that at this age," she replied, watching as Nysa opened her mouth the same way that the babe did. The babe settled against Nysa's chest, her crying ceasing as mother and child slowly bonded.
"Congratulations, my Queen," Maege Mormont stood at the edge of the bed, smiling at her.
"Yes, congratulations my Queen," Marissa curtsied as did Sheira Blackwood. The two young women smiled at one another before their eyes turned to watch the little bundle in the Queen's arms wiggle and coo.
"Shall I send word to the King," Lyra asked, her eyes wet with joyful tears.
"Oh, Robb," Nysa choked out an ecstatic sob before looking down at the child. "He'll never let me hear the end of it."
Lady Catelyn smiled. "About knowing you were going to bear him a son," she stated, before touching the babe's head gently as it attempted to find Nysa's breasts. She helped guide her grandson as Nysa moved, looking to her for approval. "You'll do wonderfully," Catelyn stated before moving from the bed. "Lyra," she looked up at the young woman. "Have someone send word to Casterly Rock," she looked happily down at her grandson. "A Prince has been born."
AN: So, I am introducing two OCs in this chapter. I have been attempting to stay true to the characters that have been offered since there are so many characters in ASOFAI. But you'll meet two young women who will help Nysa (or Rhaenys) later in this story.
One of them is Leila Lannister - she is the youngest daughter of Jason Lannister, the youngest sister of Joanna and Ser Stafford.
The second person is Sheira Blackwood - I wanted to make her the daughter of Lord Tytos. However, I read somewhere that he loved his daughter very much and so I highly doubt that he would allow the Queen to take her back to the North. Instead, she is his niece.
And yes, a Prince is born... Like finally, right? She's been pregnant so long.